Regular Application of Sunscreen Directly Correlates to a Reduced Risk of Melanoma

The general consensus is that one should avoid getting sunburn, as sunburn just once every 2 years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer. While we know that sunburn is detrimental to our health, new research published by Jama Dermatology has shown that applying sunscreen regularly throughout youth and early adulthood can reduce Melanoma risk.

That’s because sunburn does not mean simply raw, peeling or blistering skin, in fact, if your skin has gone pink or red in the sun, it’s sunburnt, and as sunscreen prevents the risk of sunburn when regularly applied, it therefore prevents a higher risk of burnt skin cells and Melanoma in the future.

After a case-control family study of 603 Australian patients showed that childhood sunscreen use, and lifetime sunscreen use were significantly associated with a decreased risk of cutaneous melanoma among young adults. Sex, age, ancestry, educational level, skin pigmentation, and sunburn were factors associated with sunscreen use. The study therefore concluded that regular sunscreen use may reduce the risk of melanoma among young adults under the age of 40.