Editing Skin cancer (section)

== Prevention ==
[[Sunscreen]] is effective and thus recommended to prevent melanoma<ref name=SunM>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kanavy HE, Gerstenblith MR | title = Ultraviolet radiation and melanoma | journal = Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery | volume = 30 | issue = 4 | pages = 222–228 | date = December 2011 | pmid = 22123420 | doi = 10.1016/j.sder.2011.08.003 | doi-broken-date = 1 November 2024 }}</ref> and squamous-cell carcinoma.<ref name=SunS>{{cite journal | vauthors = Burnett ME, Wang SQ | title = Current sunscreen controversies: a critical review | journal = Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine | volume = 27 | issue = 2 | pages = 58–67 | date = April 2011 | pmid = 21392107 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2011.00557.x | s2cid = 29173997 | doi-access =  }}</ref> There is little evidence that it is effective in preventing basal-cell carcinoma.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kütting B, Drexler H | title = UV-induced skin cancer at workplace and evidence-based prevention | journal = International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | volume = 83 | issue = 8 | pages = 843–854 | date = December 2010 | pmid = 20414668 | doi = 10.1007/s00420-010-0532-4 | s2cid = 40870536 | bibcode = 2010IAOEH..83..843K }}</ref> Other advice to reduce rates of skin cancer includes avoiding sunburn, wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and hats, and attempting to avoid sun exposure or periods of peak exposure.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Balk SJ | title = Ultraviolet radiation: a hazard to children and adolescents | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 127 | issue = 3 | pages = 588–597 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21357336 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2010-3501 | s2cid = 24739322 | doi-access =  }}</ref> The [[U.S. Preventive Services Task Force]] recommends that people between 9 and 25 years of age be advised to avoid ultraviolet light.<ref name="Behavioral counseling to prevent sk">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lin JS, Eder M, Weinmann S | title = Behavioral counseling to prevent skin cancer: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force | journal = Annals of Internal Medicine | volume = 154 | issue = 3 | pages = 190–201 | date = February 2011 | pmid = 21282699 | doi = 10.7326/0003-4819-154-3-201102010-00009 | s2cid = 13796237 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.690.6405 }}</ref>

The risk of developing skin cancer can be reduced through a number of measures including decreasing [[indoor tanning]] and mid-day sun exposure, increasing the use of [[sunscreen]],<ref name="Behavioral counseling to prevent sk" /> and avoiding the use of [[tobacco products]].

It is important to limit sun exposure and to avoid tanning beds, because they both involve UV light. UV light is known to damage skin cells by mutating their DNA. The mutated DNA can cause tumors and other growths to form on the skin. Further, there are other risk factors beside just UV exposure. Fair skin, prolonged history of sunburns, moles, and family history of skin cancer are just a few.<ref name=":1" />

There is insufficient evidence either for or against screening for skin cancers.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, Davidson KW, Ebell M, Epling JW, García FA, Gillman MW, Kemper AR, Krist AH, Kurth AE, Landefeld CS, Mangione CM, Phillips WR, Phipps MG, Pignone MP, Siu AL | display-authors = 6 | title = Screening for Skin Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement | journal = JAMA | volume = 316 | issue = 4 | pages = 429–435 | date = July 2016 | pmid = 27458948 | doi = 10.1001/jama.2016.8465 | doi-access = free }}</ref> [[Vitamin supplements]] and [[antioxidant supplements]] have not been found to have an effect in prevention.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chang YJ, Myung SK, Chung ST, Kim Y, Lee EH, Jeon YJ, Park CH, Seo HG, Huh BY | display-authors = 6 | title = Effects of vitamin treatment or supplements with purported antioxidant properties on skin cancer prevention: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials | journal = Dermatology | volume = 223 | issue = 1 | pages = 36–44 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21846961 | doi = 10.1159/000329439 | s2cid = 12333832 }}</ref> Evidence for reducing melanoma risk from dietary measures is tentative, with some supportive epidemiological evidence, but no clinical trials.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jensen JD, Wing GJ, Dellavalle RP | title = Nutrition and melanoma prevention | journal = Clinics in Dermatology | volume = 28 | issue = 6 | pages = 644–649 | date = November–December 2010 | pmid = 21034988 | doi = 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.026 }}</ref>

[[Zinc oxide]] and [[titanium oxide]] are often used in sunscreen to provide broad protection from UVA and UVB ranges.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Smijs TG, Pavel S | title = Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness | journal = Nanotechnology, Science and Applications | volume = 4 | pages = 95–112 | date = October 2011 | pmid = 24198489 | pmc = 3781714 | doi = 10.2147/NSA.S19419 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Eating certain foods may decrease the risk of sunburns but this is much less than the protection provided by sunscreen.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stahl W, Sies H | title = β-Carotene and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight | journal = The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | volume = 96 | issue = 5 | pages = 1179S–1184S | date = November 2012 | pmid = 23053552 | doi = 10.3945/ajcn.112.034819 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

A meta-analysis of skin cancer prevention in high risk individuals found evidence that topical application of T4N5 liposome lotion reduced the rate of appearance of basal cell carcinomas in people with [[xeroderma pigmentosum]], and that [[acitretin]] taken by mouth may have a skin protective benefit in people following [[kidney transplant]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bath-Hextall F, Leonardi-Bee J, Somchand N, Webster A, Delitt J, Perkins W | title = Interventions for preventing non-melanoma skin cancers in high-risk groups | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 4 | pages = CD005414 | date = October 2007 | volume = 2015 | pmid = 17943854 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD005414.pub2 | pmc = 10799667 | hdl-access = free | hdl = 2123/22258 }}</ref>

A paper published in January 2022 showed that a vaccine that stimulates the production of a protein critical to the skin's antioxidant network could reinforce people's defenses against skin cancer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Possibility of vaccine to prevent skin cancer|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112093811.htm|access-date=2022-01-16|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}}</ref>