Sunscreen Alone Is Not Enough to Prevent Melanoma

Sunscreen may not solely protect the skin from malignant melanoma, according to a recent study.

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is largely caused by increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light damages the DNA in the skin’s pigment cells, causing faults in the p53 gene, which normally helps protect the DNA from damage from UV light.
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Sunscreen is used to reduce the amount of DNA damage by UV, delaying melanoma. In this study with mice, researchers noted that sunscreen alone couldn’t offer complete protection against UV light. 

“This work highlights the importance of combining sunscreen with other strategies to protect our skin, including wearing hats and loose fitting clothing, and seeking shade when the sun is at its strongest,” said study author Richard Marais, PhD, of Cancer Research UK at the University of Manchester.

Julie Sharp, PhD, the senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, also noted that sunscreen offers a false sense of security to users. Thus, people are more apt to spend longer amounts of time in the sun while wearing sunscreen.

The complete study is available in the June issue of Nature.

-Michelle Canales

References:

Viros A,  Sanchez-Laorden B, Pedersen M, et al. Ultraviolet radiation accelerates BRAF-driven melanomagenesis by targeting TP53. Nature. 2014 June 11 [epub ahead of print] doi:10.1038/nature13298

Manchester. New clues to skin cancer development show sunscreen is not enough [press release]. June 12, 2014. www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=12298. Accessed June 16, 2014.