Sunburn, sunscreen, and melanoma

Abstract

This paper reviews the current epidemiologic and experimental evidence regarding the effect of sunburns on cutaneous malignant melanoma and the possible effectiveness of sunscreens in preventing those effects. Although there is growing agreement that sunlight exposure, particularly the ultraviolet wavelengths in solar radiation, contributes to the etiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma, there are at present insufficient data on the effective ultraviolet waveband and whether the use of sunscreens may be useful in preventing melanoma. The main obstacle in answering this question is that the exact role of sunlight in the pathogenesis of melanoma still remains undefined. However, new experimental animal models are now available that will assist in determining and defining the mechanism of initiation and promotion of melanoma by sunlight and, particularly, ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. While we await more definitive data, it is reasonable to recommend an overall "safe sun strategy" in which the use of sunscreens certainly must be accompanied by other protective measures of overall reduction of sunlight exposure.