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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : June 20, 2014 12:21 PM IST
Researchers have claimed that the incidence of malignant melanoma in adulthood can be dramatically reduced by the consistent use of sunscreen in infancy and childhood. According to senior author John L. VandeBerg, Ph.D., the research was driven by the fact that, despite the increasing use of sunscreen in recent decades, the incidence of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, continues to increase dramatically.
VandeBerg said while sunscreen is highly effective in preventing sunburn, this paradox has led some to question whether sunscreen is effective in preventing melanoma caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have established the gray short-tailed opossum, a small marsupial from South America, as such a model, and tested an over-the-counter facial lotion containing SPF15 sunscreen for its ability to prevent UV-induced melanoma. The Texas Biomed researchers found that the application of lotion containing sunscreen to infant opossums led to a 10-fold reduction in pre-melanotic lesions (known to progress to melanoma), in comparison to infant opossums receiving lotion that did not contain sunscreen. This difference in the development of lesions occurred even when low doses of UV light were applied - so low that they caused no sunburn or even reddening of the skin in the opossums that did not receive sunscreen. (Read: 10 facts about skin cancer you probably didn't know about)
The pre-melanotic lesions did not appear until the infants had become adolescents (equivalent to early teenagers in humans), and prior experiments established that the pre-melanocytic lesions in opossums do not progress to melanomas until the animals are well into adulthood, as typically occurs in humans. The study has been published in the scientific journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma. (Read: Gene mutation behind deadly skin cancer identified)
What is melanoma?
Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin the pigment that colours our skin. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in melanocytes. It is a less common, but most dangerous form of skin cancer and can originate in any part of the body that contains the skin pigment producing cells. The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from sun. Roughly 10 percent of melanomas are familial i.e. they occur in the family members. Individuals with dysplastic or atypical nevi (irregular bordered mole-like growth on skin) carry a 20-fold more risk of developing malignant melanoma. High nevus counts (more than 25) and indoor tanning beds are the other risk factors. According to a study, sun tanning craze has caused a marked increase in melanoma cases in women between 40 to 50 years of age.
A biopsy is the only way to diagnose the condition. A melanoma cancer, if caught early, can be cured with relatively minor surgery. Melanomas which are hard to treat have been found to be potentially sensitive to MEK inhibitors.
Sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. A US study has found that women consuming aspirin reduce their risk of developing melanoma, and the longer they take the medicine, the lower risk they have. The findings suggest that aspirin's anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer. Another study has found that the progression of melanoma may be slowed down by the antioxidant effect of olive oil. According to scientists, taking vitamin A food supplements can also make people less likely to develop melanoma.
With inputs from ANI
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