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There are many who find summer difficult, because they're too fair to enjoy the beach or pool. But a new Aussie drug could soon end all that.

The original article can be found at: * http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/6611984/health/golden-tan-implant

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The drug being described here mimics the effects of a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates the formation of pigment containing cells in the skin. Such products have been under investigation since 1991. It is being trialled as a treatment for serious skin disorders, not as an aid to tanning. There are preliminary data, and good biological reasons, to indicate why this drug might help patients with skin conditions that make them very sensitive to sunlight. The article refers to EPP. This stands for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria an inherited condition in which sufferers form an abnormal chemical that is deposited in the skin and is transformed by sun exposure into a toxin that causes severe skin inflammation, pain and scarring. The Australian company developing this drug is trialling it in a range of severe sunlight sensitivity disorders. To their credit the company, in its literature, does not appear to be implying that the drug will have a large market as an aid to tanning and it is unfortunate that Channel 7 have chosen to highlight this aspect. The drug has been shown to increase skin pigmentation in healthy individuals. If it is also found to protect against sun induced skin damage then that will be valuable, but we could find no trial evidence and it certainly should not be promoted for what are essentially cosmetic effects. The long term efficacy and safety of this drug needs to be established.

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