Landmark study shows regular sunscreen use reduces rates of melanoma

A large Australian study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology earlier this year has lent strong support to the belief that sun-protection prevents melanoma, a potentially serious form of skin cancer. Up until now it has been known that too much sun can increase the risk of developing melanoma but it has, until now, never been conclusively shown that limiting sun reduces melanoma – this has been an intuitive assumption.

This large-scale study enrolled 1621 adults in Queensland and asked one group to use sunscreen daily and the other group to use it discretionarily over a period of 4 years. 10 years later, the rates of invasive melanoma were an astounding almost 4 times lower in the group that used sunscreen daily. The rates of melanoma in situ, a form of precancerous melanoma was also lower, almost 25% less in the daily sunscreen group.

While this study has several limitations, it is a landmark piece of research that provides the most convincing evidence yet that sun protection prevents melanoma. This is important as melanoma rates, along with rates of other sun-induced skin cancers have increased exponentially over the last three decades in the United Kingdom. Avoiding intense sunlight, wearing protective clothing such as a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves, and applying a sunblock every 2 to 3 hours are easy ways to keep skin looking young and cancer free.

Dr. Sajjad Rajpar is a private dermatology service based in Birmingham that specialises in skin disorders and offers a comprehensive skin cancer service from screening to management. More information can be found at www.midlandskin.co.uk.