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Lapides R, Saravi B, Mueller A, Wang-Evers M, Maul LV, Németh I, Navarini A, Manstein D, Roider E. Possible Explanations for Rising Melanoma Rates Despite Increased Sunscreen Use over the Past Several Decades. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5868. [PMID: 38136411 PMCID: PMC10741796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of cutaneous melanoma continues to rise despite the increased use of sunscreens within the last several decades. Some research even suggests that the use of sunscreen is associated with increased rates of melanoma. Given the aggressive, and often deadly, nature of cutaneous melanoma, the aim of this communication is to better elucidate the relationship between sunscreen use and melanoma development and if there are other preventative measures to be aware of. A search was performed to identify the studies that have investigated melanoma development in individuals who used sunscreen and those who did not. Study limitations and possible confounding variables were identified, which guided a subsequent search to determine what data were available to support that these limitations and confounding variables may explain the perplexing association between sunscreen use and melanoma development. Five hypotheses were generated, which were related to increased awareness and reporting, the relationship between sunscreen use and the duration of sun exposure, the importance of broad-spectrum protection, and the effect of sunscreen on reactive oxygen species formation. The main conclusion is that more recent studies that control for confounding variables are required to determine the true effect of adequate broad-spectrum sunscreen use today on the development of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lapides
- The Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA;
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (M.W.-E.); (D.M.)
| | - Babak Saravi
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Alina Mueller
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (A.M.); (L.V.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Michael Wang-Evers
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (M.W.-E.); (D.M.)
| | - Lara Valeska Maul
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (A.M.); (L.V.M.); (A.N.)
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - István Németh
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical School, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Alexander Navarini
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (A.M.); (L.V.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Dieter Manstein
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (M.W.-E.); (D.M.)
| | - Elisabeth Roider
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (M.W.-E.); (D.M.)
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (A.M.); (L.V.M.); (A.N.)
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