Sun protection for preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers

Abstract

Background'Keratinocyte cancer' is now the preferred term for the most commonly identified skin cancers basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which were previously commonly categorised as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Keratinocyte cancer (KC) represents about 95% of malignant skin tumours. Lifestyle changes have led to increased exposure to the sun, which has, in turn, led to a significant increase of new cases of KC, with a worldwide annual incidence of between 3% and 8%. The successful use of preventive measures could mean a significant reduction in the resources used by health systems, compared with the high cost of the treatment of these conditions. At present, there is no information about the quality of the evidence for the use of these sun protection strategies with an assessment of their benefits and risks. ObjectivesTo assess the effects of sun protection strategies (i.e. sunscreen and barrier methods) for preventing keratinocyte cancer (that is, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the skin) in the general population. Search methodsWe searched the following databases up to May 2016: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS. We also searched five trial registries and the bibliographies of included studies for further references to relevant trials.

Modifiable Risk-factors for Keratinocyte Cancers in Australia: A Case-control Study

“…Frequent sunscreenuse did not appear to reduce the risk of KC in the present study. This is consistent with a randomized con trolled trial that did not show any significant difference in the incidence of KC between "daily sunscreen" and the "no sunscreen" group (34,35). One plausible explanation is that sunscreenusers stay outdoors longer, merely delaying sunburn (or accumulating a high suberythemal dose) rather than pre venting over-exposure (36)(37)(38).…”

“…Furthermore, the effectiveness of sunscreen depends on its SPF, the amount applied, application frequency, and the user's skinphototype (36,(39)(40)(41). Some authors have proposed that other physical barriers, such as wearing a hat and long-sleeve shirt, can also help in preventing the harmful effects of UV radiation (35); in the present study, wearing a hat was associated with a significantly elevated risk for SCC. North Queensland is a region with very high insolation, and there is a high frequency of individuals using sun protective measures.…”

Skin Cancer Prevalence in Outdoor Workers of Ski Resorts

“…Only the higher use of shade was significantly associated with a higher presence of AKs. ere are not studies that evaluate the preventive effect against NMSC of solar protection measures different from sunscreen [20]; although a beach umbrella alone (only shade) did not provide sufficient protection for extended UV exposure compared to sunscreen [21].…”

Síndrome de Gorlin-Goltz: Diagnóstico e Hipóteses de Tratamento

“…1,3,[6][7][8][9][10] Com igual relevância, esta população deve ser alertada para a importância da prevenção do cancro cutâneo, nomeadamente através da adoção de medidas de fotoproteção, como uso de protetor solar e roupa adequada, bem como exposição solar por períodos reduzidos. 11,12 No tratamento propriamente dito das lesões cutâneas, as novas terapêuticas moleculares constituem uma opção válida, principalmente em casos em que as cirúrgicas não são praticáveis. 1,6,7…”