It has long been known that Ultraviolet Radiation from the sun is the primary factor in the development of non-melanoma skin cancer and actinic keratoses (pre-cancers). The cost of treatment of skin cancer is expensive; in the US, Medicare spends $13 billion each year on skin cancer treatment alone (not including treatment of actinic keratoses). Dermatologists have long recommended sunscreens for skin cancer prevention, but there have been few studies that have looked at how sunscreens actually reduce the number of skin cancers that develop in patients.
A study published in the June 2009 Journal of Investigative Dermatology actually answered this question. The study took place in Queensland Australia and consisted of 1,621 patients. 85% remained in the study for 5 full years. There were two groups. One group used waterproof sunscreens daily to the head, neck, arms and hands. The other group went about their “usual” practice (discretionary use of sunscreen). There were 11 fewer basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 24 fewer squamous cell carcinomas (SCC’s) in the daily sunscreen use arm of the study. The authors of the study concluded that the significant reduction in skin cancers was attributed to the regular sunscreen use in the daily sunscreen group. In addition, there was a significant cost savings in medical care in this regular sunscreen use group.
Our conclusion: Yes, use sunscreen daily!
Article written by James M. Krell, M.D.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2009) 129, 2766-2771
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