Sunscreen Delays Melanoma in Mice, Researchers Say | WPN World People News

Applying 30 SPF sunscreen to mice before they were exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation delayed the development of melanoma, researchers report.

The study results suggest that mice can be used to identify and develop new and more effective ways to prevent the most dangerous of skin cancers, the investigators said.

"Over the past 40 years, the melanoma incidence rate has consistently increased in the United States," said expert.

"Sunscreens are known to prevent skin from burning when exposed to UV sunlight, which is a major risk factor for melanoma," expert said.

"However, it has not been possible to test whether sunscreens prevent melanoma, because these are generally manufactured as cosmetics and tested in human volunteers or synthetic skin models," expert explained.

"We have developed a mouse model that allows us to test the ability of a sunscreen to not only prevent burns but also to prevent melanoma. This is a remarkable accomplishment. We hope that this model will lead to breakthroughs in melanoma prevention," expert concluded.

It's important to note, however, that animal research often doesn't produce similar results in humans.

One expert praised the findings.

"This study is very helpful and important because it gives concrete evidence that using sunscreen can help protect against malignant melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer, by as much as 80 percent," said expert.

"It was also significant because all forms of sunscreen tested, whether chemical or physical, showed efficacy in protecting against melanoma [in mice]," expert added.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 76,000 Americans will be newly diagnosed with melanoma this year and nearly 10,000 will die from it.

Source: HealthDay News