The fat found in fast food can help protect against the deadliest form of skin cancer, a study claims.
Experts found that palmitic acid, which is in products such as burgers and cookies, fuels a protein involved in the pigmentation process to help protect against harmful skin cancer mutations.
While fast food can have harmful effects on the heart and brain, it could prevent melanoma, a deadly skin cancer.
Rates of people being diagnosed with melanoma have increased the past 30 years in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates close to 10,000 people will die from the cancer this year.
Experts said this breakthrough in research could lead to a drug for those who are red hair, fair skinned or have consistently tanned, all of whom are more at risk to get skin cancer.
