Sunday, December 12, 2010

Do moles have an anti aging affect?


Scientists in London, England claim that people who have many moles tend to look younger on the inside and prettier on the outside. The reason for this is that the cells in moles are continually being replaced and the renewal process means a younger and fresher looking skin. However, the fast turnover of mole cells also has a downside -moles because they turn over faster also have a higher rate of cancer.

While most people have 10-30 moles, some may have a few hundred. In the study from London, it was observed that people who had many moles tended to age gracefully. These individuals were less vulnerable to wrinkles, lines and skin blemishes which normally happen to other people. In addition it was observed that individuals with a high number of moles were also less affected by age related thinning of bone, which means a lower risk of osteoporosis and factures later in life.

The reason for these changes is due to the differences in strands of DNA, especially the end called telomeres.

So what does all this mean?

People who have many moles certainly look young, develop fewer wrinkles and have a less risk of developing osteoporosis, but on the other hand these individuals have a high risk of developing cancer. To date mucking around with these telomeres or “elixir of youth” has not been easy. Our human DNA system has been reproducing itself for millions of years and it is very unlikely that a cream or seaweed from the Red Sea is easily going to alter that. Tinkering around with DNA and aging is closely linked to cancer. While more cell divisions will help one regain youth, it will also increase risk of cancer.

For people who do not have moles, unfortunately they will have to learn to live with reality and accept the wrinkles. For those who have many moles and already look young, make sure that your doctor thoroughly checks you out to ensure that you do not have a cancer growing somewhere in your body.

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