Sunscreens Can Help Grab Some Rays Safely

Using a sunscreen regularly can reduce the incidence of two of the most common skin cancers by as much as 80%, a Harvard Medical School study found. But despite more than 400,000 annual cases of sun-related skin cancer, public awareness of the benefits of using a high-protection sunscreen is surprisingly low, it said.

“Simply by applying an SPF 15 sunscreen to their face, neck, upper chest and arms each summer day until they are 18, children can substantially reduce their risk of non-melanoma skin cancer,” Dr. Robert Stern said. “And, for those who remain committed to tanning, they should remember that unprotected exposure can greatly accelerate aging of the skin.”

The Harvard study was based on the assumption that the average child spends three times as much time in the sun as the average adult and on a statistical model that predicts the potential long-term benefits of sunscreen use during childhood and adolescence. “All of our evidence indicates that the risk is dependent on the amount of ultraviolet-B rays a person is exposed to,” Stern said. “Several factors determine skin cancer risk. For instance, a person is at greater risk in Albuquerque than in Seattle because more ultraviolet-B rays can penetrate the atmosphere at that latitude.”

The two common skin cancers are basal and squamous cell carcinomas.