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Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ®)

Health Professional Version

.

Published online: May 13, 2022.

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about skin cancer prevention. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Who Is at Risk?

Note: The Overview section summarizes the published evidence on this topic. The rest of the summary describes the evidence in more detail.

Other PDQ summaries containing information related to skin cancer prevention include the following:

Individuals whose skin freckles, tans poorly, or burns easily after sun exposure are particularly susceptible to developing skin cancer.[1] Observational and analytic epidemiologic studies have consistently shown that increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer.[1,2] Organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive drugs are at an elevated risk of skin cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Arsenic exposure also increases the risk of cutaneous SCC.[3,4] In the case of melanoma, it seems that intermittent acute sun exposure leading to sunburn is more important than cumulative sun exposure;[5] such exposures during childhood or adolescence may be particularly important.[6] Nonmodifiable host factors, such as a large number of benign melanocytic nevi and atypical nevi may also increase the risk of developing cutaneous melanoma.[6]

References

  1. Preston DS, Stern RS: Nonmelanoma cancers of the skin. N Engl J Med 327 (23): 1649-62, 1992. [PubMed: 1435901]
  2. English DR, Armstrong BK, Kricker A, et al.: Case-control study of sun exposure and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Int J Cancer 77 (3): 347-53, 1998. [PubMed: 9663594]
  3. Thomas VD, Aasi SZ, Wilson LD, et al.: Cancer of the skin. In: DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds.: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vols. 1 & 2. 8th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008, pp 1863-87.
  4. Le Mire L, Hollowood K, Gray D, et al.: Melanomas in renal transplant recipients. Br J Dermatol 154 (3): 472-7, 2006. [PubMed: 16445778]
  5. Gandini S, Sera F, Cattaruzza MS, et al.: Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: II. Sun exposure. Eur J Cancer 41 (1): 45-60, 2005. [PubMed: 15617990]
  6. Koh HK: Cutaneous melanoma. N Engl J Med 325 (3): 171-82, 1991. [PubMed: 1805813]

Overview

Factors Associated With an Increased Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure

Based on solid evidence, sun and UV radiation exposure are associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Magnitude of Effect: Substantial, depending upon amount of exposure.

  • Study Design: Observational studies.
  • Internal Validity: Good.
  • Consistency: Good.
  • External Validity: Good.

Factors Associated With an Increased Risk of Melanoma

Sun and UV radiation exposure

Based on fair evidence, intermittent acute sun exposure leading to sunburn is associated with an increased risk of melanoma.

Magnitude of Effect: Unknown.

  • Study Design: Observational studies.
  • Internal Validity: Fair.
  • Consistency: Fair.
  • External Validity: Poor.

Interventions With Inadequate Evidence as to Whether They Reduce Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Sunscreen use and UV radiation avoidance: benefits

The evidence that interventions designed to reduce exposure to UV radiation by the use of sunscreen, protective clothing, or limitation of sun exposure time decrease the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer is inadequate. A randomized study suggested a possible reduction in incidence of SCCs, but study design and analysis problems complicate interpretation of the results.[1,2]

Magnitude of Benefit: Not applicable (N/A) (inadequate evidence).

  • Study Design: One randomized controlled trial (RCT) with tumor incidence as the outcome and one RCT with actinic keratosis as the outcome for SCC; cohort studies for BCC. Other study designs give inconsistent results.
  • Internal Validity: Poor.
  • Consistency: Poor.
  • External Validity: Poor.

Sunscreen use and UV radiation avoidance: harms

The harms of sunscreen use are poorly quantified but are likely to be small, including allergic reactions to skin creams and lower production of vitamin D by the skin with less sun exposure.

It is possible that individuals who use sunscreen may experience excess sun exposure because they avoid sunburn but do not avoid harmful UV radiation.

Chemopreventive agents: benefits

There is inadequate evidence to determine whether the use of chemopreventive agents reduces the incidence of SCC or BCC of the skin.

Magnitude of Effect: N/A (inadequate evidence).

  • Study Design: RCTs with tumor incidence as a post hoc subset.
  • Internal Validity: Poor.
  • Consistency: N/A.
  • External Validity: Poor.

Chemopreventive agents: harms

Beta carotene use has been associated in RCTs with an increased risk of lung cancer incidence and mortality in smokers. Isotretinoin has dose-related skin toxicity. COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, have been associated with cardiac toxic effects in RCTs for the prevention of colorectal cancer.

Interventions With Inadequate Evidence as to Whether They Reduce Risk of Melanoma

Sunscreen use and UV radiation avoidance: benefits

There is inadequate evidence to determine whether the avoidance of sunburns or the use of sunscreen alters the incidence of cutaneous melanoma.

Magnitude of Benefit: Unknown.

  • Study Design: Primarily cohort or case-control studies. A post hoc analysis of one randomized controlled trial of regular sunscreen use versus use at the personal discretion of the control group suggested a possible decrease in melanoma in the regular sunscreen group that emerged years after the trial period ended. However, the numbers were extremely small, and the confidence intervals were consequently very large.[3]
  • Internal Validity: Poor.
  • Consistency: Poor.
  • External Validity: N/A.

Sunscreen use and UV radiation avoidance: harms

The harms of sunscreen use are poorly quantified but are likely to be small, including allergic reactions to skin creams and lower production of vitamin D by the skin with less sun exposure.

References

  1. Green A, Williams G, Neale R, et al.: Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 354 (9180): 723-9, 1999. [PubMed: 10475183]
  2. van der Pols JC, Williams GM, Pandeya N, et al.: Prolonged prevention of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin by regular sunscreen use. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15 (12): 2546-8, 2006. [PubMed: 17132769]
  3. Thomas VD, Aasi SZ, Wilson LD, et al.: Cancer of the skin. In: DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds.: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vols. 1 & 2. 8th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008, pp 1863-87.

Description of the Evidence

Incidence and Mortality

There are three main types of skin cancer:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which together with BCC is referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
  • Melanoma.

BCC and SCC are the most common forms of skin cancer but have substantially better prognoses than the less common, generally more aggressive, melanoma.

NMSC is the most commonly occurring cancer in the United States. Its incidence appears to be increasing in some,[1] but not all,[2] areas of the country. Overall U.S. incidence rates have likely been increasing for a number of years.[3] At least some of this increase may be attributable to increasing skin cancer awareness and resulting increasing investigation and biopsy of skin lesions. The total number and incidence rate of NMSCs cannot be estimated precisely because reporting to cancer registries is not required. However, based on extrapolation of Medicare fee-for-service data to the U.S. population, it has been estimated that the total number of persons treated for NMSCs in 2012 was about 3 million.[4,5] That number exceeds all other cases of cancer estimated by the American Cancer Society for 2022, which totaled about 1.9 million.[5]

Melanoma is a reportable cancer in U.S. cancer registries, so there are more reliable estimates of incidence than is the case with NMSCs. In 2022, it is estimated that 99,780 individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with melanoma and approximately 7,650 will die of the disease.[5]

After decades of increasing, from 2005 to 2018, the incidence rate of melanoma declined by about 1% per year in individuals younger than 50 years. From 2014 to 2018, the incidence rate appeared to stabilize in individuals aged 50 years and older.[5] From 2015 to 2019, mortality rates declined by about 4% per year.[5]

Risk Factors

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the sensitivity of an individual’s skin to UV radiation are risk factors for skin cancer, though the type of exposure (high-intensity and short-duration vs. chronic exposure) and the pattern of exposure (continuous vs. intermittent) may differ among the three main skin cancer types.[6-8] In addition, the immune system may play a role in pathogenesis of skin cancer. Organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive drugs are at an elevated risk of skin cancer, particularly SCC. Arsenic exposure also increases the risk of cutaneous SCC.[9,10]

The visible evidence of susceptibility to skin cancer (skin type and precancerous lesions), of sun-induced skin damage (sunburn and solar keratoses), and the ability of an individual to modify sun exposure provide the basis for implementation of programs for the primary prevention of skin cancer.

Factors associated with increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer

UV radiation exposure

Most evidence about UV radiation exposure and the prevention of skin cancer comes from observational and analytic epidemiologic studies. Such studies have consistently shown that increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for NMSC.[7,8] Individuals whose skin tans poorly or burns easily after sun exposure are particularly susceptible.[7]

Factors associated with an increased risk of melanoma

UV radiation exposure

The relationship between UV radiation exposure and cutaneous melanoma is less clear than the relationship between UV exposure and NMSC. In the case of melanoma, it seems that intermittent acute sun exposure leading to sunburn is more important than cumulative sun exposure;[11] such exposures during childhood or adolescence may be particularly important.[6]

Interventions With Inadequate Evidence as to Whether They Reduce Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Sunscreen use and UV radiation avoidance

It is not known whether interventions designed to reduce exposure to UV radiation through the use of sunscreens and protective clothing or through limitation of exposure time reduce the incidence of NMSC in humans. Some studies have used solar keratoses rather than invasive skin cancer as the study endpoint. It is generally felt that half or more of SCCs arise from solar keratoses. However, nearly half of SCCs occur in clinically normal skin.[12] A longitudinal study has shown that the progression rate from solar keratoses to SCC is about 0.075% to 0.096% per year, or less than 1 in 1,000 per year.[12] Moreover, in a population-based longitudinal study, there was an approximately 26% spontaneous regression rate of solar keratoses within 1 year of a screening examination.[13] Therefore, it is likely that solar keratosis is a poor surrogate endpoint in SCC prevention trials.

One very small randomized placebo-controlled study of a sunscreen (sun protection factor [SPF] 29) was conducted in 53 volunteers who had either clinical evidence of solar keratoses or NMSC.[14] Only 37 of the participants returned for the planned 2-year follow-up (attrition rate of 30%). The rate of new solar keratoses was lower after 2 years in the sunscreen group than in the placebo (base-cream) group (estimated 36% reduction in annual rate, P = .001). Another study showed that regular sunscreen use helps reduce the incidence of solar keratoses and increase remission of existing lesions.[15] In Australia, 588 persons aged 40 years and older who attended a free skin-cancer screening clinic and had 1 to 30 solar keratoses were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the effect of regular sunscreen (SPF 17) use on solar keratoses; 431 persons completed the study. Individuals in the sunscreen group developed fewer new lesions and had more remissions of existing lesions than those in the base-cream placebo group. There was an increase of 1.0 in the mean number of solar keratoses in the base-cream group versus a decrease of 0.6 in the sunscreen group (difference, 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–2.25). The rate ratio of new lesions was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.54–0.71). Furthermore, in the sunscreen group, the development of new lesions and the remission of existing lesions were related to the amount of sunscreen used. Such a relationship was not observed in the base-cream group.

However, a different Australian randomized study (the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial) showed that, after 4.5 years of follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of BCCs or SCCs with regular SPF 16 sunscreen use. This study did not include a sunscreen placebo. Although a secondary subset analysis of the overall number of tumors showed a reduction in the frequency of SCCs on the sites of daily sunscreen application, the validity of the finding is questionable because of the possible effects of extensive multiple statistical testing.[16] An 8-year posttrial observational follow-up demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both the frequency and the overall incidence of SCCs in the regular sunscreen-use arm, but the reliability of these findings is uncertain given their occurrence outside of the controlled-trial environment.[17]

Chemopreventive agents

Beta carotene

In the Physicians’ Health Study, 21,884 male physicians with no reported history of BCC or SCC were randomly assigned to take 50 mg doses of daily oral beta carotene versus placebo in a 2 × 2 factorial trial of beta carotene and aspirin.[18] Incidence of NMSCs was a secondary endpoint in the trial. After 12 years of beta carotene or placebo administration, there was no difference in incidence of either BCC or SCC. RCTs of long-term treatment with beta carotene in individuals previously treated for NMSC also showed no benefit in preventing the occurrence of new NMSCs.[16,19]

Isotretinoin

High-dose isotretinoin was found to prevent new skin cancers in individuals with xeroderma pigmentosum.[20] However, a RCT of long-term treatment with isotretinoin in individuals previously treated for BCC showed that this agent did not prevent the occurrence of new BCCs but did produce side effects characteristic of isotretinoin treatment.[21,22]

Selenium

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 1,312 patients with a history of BCC or SCC and a mean follow-up of 6.4 years showed that 200 µg of selenium (in brewer’s yeast tablets) did not have a statistically significant effect on the primary endpoint of BCC development and may increase the risk of SCC and total NMSC.[23,24] The cumulative incidence of NMSC was 0.20 versus 0.16 per person-year of follow-up in the selenium and placebo groups, respectively (unadjusted relative risk, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.11–1.45).

Celecoxib

The use of celecoxib as a chemopreventive agent for actinic keratosis was assessed in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Two hundred forty high-risk men and women (each with 10–40 actinic keratoses and a history of previous skin cancer) received 200 mg doses of celecoxib twice daily or a placebo for 9 months with an additional 2-month follow-up. No difference was found in the incidence of actinic keratosis, but a post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean number of NMSCs per patient (rate ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.75; absolute difference, 0.2 lesions per patient). The ultimate utility of celecoxib in preventing NMSCs remains unclear, given the exploratory nature of the analysis, the challenge of interpreting benefits in fractions of lesions, and the potential for serious adverse cardiovascular effects associated with long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the unexpected finding of the lack of effect of celecoxib on actinic keratosis but apparent effect on SCC and BCC incidence raises questions about the use of actinic keratosis as an intermediate endpoint for SCC and BCC and the current understanding of the natural history of NMSCs.[25]

Alpha-difluoromethylornithine

Alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor used in intravenous form to treat African trypanosomiasis and in topical form to treat female hirsutism, was investigated as a chemopreventive agent in patients with prior NMSCs.[26] After a 4-week placebo run-in period, 291 volunteers who took at least 80% of their placebos were randomly assigned to oral DFMO (500 mg/m2/day) versus placebo for up to 5 years (average, 4 years). At baseline, the placebo group had a higher mean number of prior NMSCs than the DFMO group (4.9 vs. 4.2; P = .1), and a longer history of NMSC (P = .002), possibly favoring the DFMO group. The primary endpoint of the study was the number of new NMSC events, and the rate was 0.44 new cancers per year in the DFMO group versus 0.61 in the placebo group (P = .07). In a subset analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in BCC events favoring the DFMO group (0.28 vs. 0.40 per year; P = .03) and no difference in SCC rates. DFMO is known to have ototoxicity, and the average hearing loss of audiograms was greater in the DFMO group, which was about 4 dB versus 2 dB (P = .003). In the DFMO group, 10.8% discontinued the study drug because of a greater than 15 dB hearing loss, compared with a 4.5% discontinuation in the placebo group (P = .06). DFMO hearing loss is usually reversible. In summary, the efficacy of DFMO for skin cancer prevention is unclear, and it remains investigational for this indication.

Nicotinamide (vitamin B3)

Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) has been hypothesized to prevent NMSC by counteracting the cancer promoting effects of ultraviolet radiation on immune suppression [27] and DNA damage.[28] The central mechanism proposed for nicotinamide’s cancer preventing actions on immune status and DNA repair is that nicotinamide protects against cellular energy loss (caused by ultraviolet radiation) [29] and enables the cellular machinery to sustain robust immune and DNA repair responses.

Support for the hypothesis that nicotinamide could be clinically useful in preventing recurrence of actinic keratoses was provided by two 4-month clinical trials, with reduction in the number of new actinic keratoses as the primary outcome. Data from the trials indicated that nicotinamide was associated with a significantly lower number of average new lesions in patients with four or fewer actinic lesions at baseline.[30] The Oral Nicotinamide to Reduce Actinic Cancer (ONTRAC) trial was a phase III trial carried out in Sydney, Australia. The trial tested whether an oral dose of 500 mg nicotinamide twice per day for 12 months would reduce the risk of new NMSCs in patients with at least two NMSC lesions who had been diagnosed within the previous 5 years.[31] A total of 386 patients were randomly assigned to receive either the nicotinamide or placebo; randomization was stratified by study site, sex, and the number of NMSC lesions (more than six vs. six or fewer within the previous 5 years). At the end of the 12-months intervention, the rate of new NMSCs was 23% lower in the nicotinamide group than in the placebo group (P = .02); the results were similar for both major histologic types of NMSC, BCC and SCC. The observed number of actinic keratosis was 13% lower in the nicotinamide group than in the placebo group at the end of the 12-month intervention (P = .001). However, the true clinical significance of the ONTRAC results is difficult to discern because the results were presented using the number of lesions as the outcome, but no data were presented to indicate if the number of patients with recurrent NMSCs was reduced in the nicotinamide group compared with that in the placebo group. It is possible that the bulk of the observed NMSC lesion reduction was benefitting a small subset of patients rather than benefitting a significantly greater number of patients. The most clinically important question is “Will my patient benefit?” Another caveat to the ONTRAC trial was that higher NMSC incidence rates were observed in the nicotinamide group at the 6-month post-intervention follow-up, when one would expect to see a continuation of the benefit of a chemopreventive agent. Given that NMSC is the culmination of a process that takes many years to develop, the rapidity of the fall in rates during the nicotinamide intervention and subsequent rise in the rates immediately post-intervention is puzzling. In summary, the current evidence indicates that nicotinamide holds promise as a chemopreventive agent, but issues in the quality and quantity of relevant data result in a current evidence rating of “inadequate.”

Interventions With Inadequate Evidence as to Whether They Reduce Risk of Melanoma

Sunscreens

Results from a collaborative European case-control study and one animal study suggest that sunscreens that protect against sunburn may not protect against UV radiation–associated cutaneous melanoma.[32,33] Nonmodifiable host factors, such as propensity to burn, a large number of benign melanocytic nevi, and atypical nevi may also increase the risk of developing cutaneous melanoma.[6]

A post hoc analysis of the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial (discussed above) examined the incidence of melanoma at a median of 14.2 person-years of follow-up. In the trial, participants were randomly assigned to daily or discretionary sunscreen use from 1992 to 1996. Follow-up continued until 2006 via either active participation, in which participants completed periodic questionnaires about new skin cancers and relevant sun behaviors, or passive participation, in which participants' medical records were reviewed for skin cancer diagnoses; 52% of the trial participants were actively participating as of 2006. Eleven melanomas were diagnosed in the daily sunscreen arm versus 22 in the discretionary-use arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.5; 95% CI, 0.24–1.02), of which 3 versus 11 were invasive, respectively (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08–0.97). There was no difference in the rates of melanoma on prescribed sunscreen application sites between the two groups. This study has several important limitations: melanoma was not a planned outcome of the original trial; the CIs of the outcome estimates are very wide, indicating substantial uncertainty of the magnitude of the effect; and there is potential for the introduction of confounding with the widespread use of the passive participant option during the follow-up phase of the study.[34]

A meta-analysis of 18 studies that explored the association between melanoma risk and previous sunscreen use illustrates widely differing study qualities and suggests little or no association.[35] A systematic review of the association between sunscreen use and the development of melanocytic nevi in children reported similar issues with study quality and heterogeneity, hindering conclusive assessments; however, of 15 studies meeting inclusion criteria, 12 found either an increased incidence or no association.[36] Thus, the current evidence indicates that sunscreen application as practiced in the general population shows no clear association with reduced risk of melanocytic nevi or melanoma.

Behavioral Interventions to Change Sun-Protective Practices

As noted previously, direct evidence that interventions, such as sunscreen or protection from UV light exposure, decrease the risk of skin cancer is sparse. However, given the association between UV light exposure and subsequent risk of skin cancer, counseling interventions aimed at increasing sun-protective behaviors have been examined. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review of this evidence. Although the USPSTF review found no randomized trials directly linking counseling strategies to skin cancer reduction, it found 11 trials, rated as fair in quality, that tested the effect of interventions on sun-protective behaviors.[37] Several trials of behavioral interventions in adults, sometimes as part of an intervention addressing multiple health-related behaviors, such as smoking and nutrition, showed a short-term increase in self-reported sun-protective behaviors. However, the effect sizes were small to modest, without clear evidence that the differences were clinically meaningful.[38-42] Likewise, appearance-based behavioral interventions in young women have had a favorable impact on self-reported indoor tanning behavior, but no long-term follow-up or health outcomes were reported.[43-45] A randomized, primary care office-based counseling intervention in adolescents showed an increase in self-reported midday sun avoidance and sunscreen use in the intervention group for up to 24 months.[46] A randomized trial of a provider-based sun protection promotion counseling program for parents for their infant children showed a small increase in sun-protective actions, of questionable clinical importance according to the researchers.[47]

Nevertheless, studies of intervention strategies for reducing UV radiation exposure suggest that the best approach is education about the risks associated with sun exposure and sunburn and education about sun-protection strategies.[48,49] In one study, an educational intervention at the time of treatment for skin cancer—a time when an individual may have heightened awareness of his or her susceptibility to skin cancer—seemed to have the greatest effect.[48] However, even in such a high-risk group, it was difficult for many individuals to maintain sun-protective behaviors. In a community skin cancer screening study, researchers found that, although regular use of sunscreens was not related to personal or family history of skin cancer, it was more common among persons who perceived themselves to be at moderate or high risk of developing melanoma.[49]

Sun-protective strategies may include avoiding sun exposure at times of the day when the exposure is more intense and wearing clothing that protects skin from sun exposure. Self-examination for skin-pigmentary characteristics associated with melanoma (e.g., freckling status) may be a useful way to identify individuals at an increased risk of developing melanoma.[50] Skin type (propensity to burn after sun exposure and tanning ability), alone or with other physical characteristics, such as hair color, has been used as a measure of sun sensitivity in epidemiologic studies.[51]

In summary, a number of randomized trials and other studies have suggested that counseling or health information may have an effect on sun- or UV-protective behaviors. However, in addition to lack of information on health outcomes and relatively short follow-up times, most of the studies suffer from important methodologic problems, including the possibility of self-reporting inaccuracy, high study attrition rates, and lack of information about sustainability of the interventions.

References

  1. Athas WF, Hunt WC, Key CR: Changes in nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence between 1977-1978 and 1998-1999 in Northcentral New Mexico. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 12 (10): 1105-8, 2003. [PubMed: 14578151]
  2. Harris RB, Griffith K, Moon TE: Trends in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers in southeastern Arizona, 1985-1996. J Am Acad Dermatol 45 (4): 528-36, 2001. [PubMed: 11568742]
  3. Rogers HW, Weinstock MA, Harris AR, et al.: Incidence estimate of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States, 2006. Arch Dermatol 146 (3): 283-7, 2010. [PubMed: 20231499]
  4. Rogers HW, Weinstock MA, Feldman SR, et al.: Incidence Estimate of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (Keratinocyte Carcinomas) in the U.S. Population, 2012. JAMA Dermatol 151 (10): 1081-6, 2015. [PubMed: 25928283]
  5. American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures 2022. American Cancer Society, 2022. Available online. Last accessed May 25, 2022.
  6. Koh HK: Cutaneous melanoma. N Engl J Med 325 (3): 171-82, 1991. [PubMed: 1805813]
  7. Preston DS, Stern RS: Nonmelanoma cancers of the skin. N Engl J Med 327 (23): 1649-62, 1992. [PubMed: 1435901]
  8. English DR, Armstrong BK, Kricker A, et al.: Case-control study of sun exposure and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Int J Cancer 77 (3): 347-53, 1998. [PubMed: 9663594]
  9. Thomas VD, Aasi SZ, Wilson LD, et al.: Cancer of the skin. In: DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds.: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vols. 1 & 2. 8th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008, pp 1863-87.
  10. Le Mire L, Hollowood K, Gray D, et al.: Melanomas in renal transplant recipients. Br J Dermatol 154 (3): 472-7, 2006. [PubMed: 16445778]
  11. Gandini S, Sera F, Cattaruzza MS, et al.: Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: II. Sun exposure. Eur J Cancer 41 (1): 45-60, 2005. [PubMed: 15617990]
  12. Marks R, Rennie G, Selwood TS: Malignant transformation of solar keratoses to squamous cell carcinoma. Lancet 1 (8589): 795-7, 1988. [PubMed: 2895318]
  13. Marks R, Foley P, Goodman G, et al.: Spontaneous remission of solar keratoses: the case for conservative management. Br J Dermatol 115 (6): 649-55, 1986. [PubMed: 3801305]
  14. Naylor MF, Boyd A, Smith DW, et al.: High sun protection factor sunscreens in the suppression of actinic neoplasia. Arch Dermatol 131 (2): 170-5, 1995. [PubMed: 7857113]
  15. Thompson SC, Jolley D, Marks R: Reduction of solar keratoses by regular sunscreen use. N Engl J Med 329 (16): 1147-51, 1993. [PubMed: 8377777]
  16. Green A, Williams G, Neale R, et al.: Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 354 (9180): 723-9, 1999. [PubMed: 10475183]
  17. van der Pols JC, Williams GM, Pandeya N, et al.: Prolonged prevention of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin by regular sunscreen use. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15 (12): 2546-8, 2006. [PubMed: 17132769]
  18. Frieling UM, Schaumberg DA, Kupper TS, et al.: A randomized, 12-year primary-prevention trial of beta carotene supplementation for nonmelanoma skin cancer in the physician's health study. Arch Dermatol 136 (2): 179-84, 2000. [PubMed: 10677093]
  19. Greenberg ER, Baron JA, Stukel TA, et al.: A clinical trial of beta carotene to prevent basal-cell and squamous-cell cancers of the skin. The Skin Cancer Prevention Study Group. N Engl J Med 323 (12): 789-95, 1990. [PubMed: 2202901]
  20. Kraemer KH, DiGiovanna JJ, Moshell AN, et al.: Prevention of skin cancer in xeroderma pigmentosum with the use of oral isotretinoin. N Engl J Med 318 (25): 1633-7, 1988. [PubMed: 3287161]
  21. Tangrea JA, Edwards BK, Taylor PR, et al.: Long-term therapy with low-dose isotretinoin for prevention of basal cell carcinoma: a multicenter clinical trial. Isotretinoin-Basal Cell Carcinoma Study Group. J Natl Cancer Inst 84 (5): 328-32, 1992. [PubMed: 1738183]
  22. Tangrea JA, Adrianza E, Helsel WE, et al.: Clinical and laboratory adverse effects associated with long-term, low-dose isotretinoin: incidence and risk factors. The Isotretinoin-Basal Cell Carcinomas Study Group. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2 (4): 375-80, 1993 Jul-Aug. [PubMed: 8348061]
  23. Clark LC, Combs GF, Turnbull BW, et al.: Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group. JAMA 276 (24): 1957-63, 1996. [PubMed: 8971064]
  24. Duffield-Lillico AJ, Slate EH, Reid ME, et al.: Selenium supplementation and secondary prevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer in a randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 95 (19): 1477-81, 2003. [PubMed: 14519754]
  25. Elmets CA, Viner JL, Pentland AP, et al.: Chemoprevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer with celecoxib: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 102 (24): 1835-44, 2010. [PMC free article: PMC3001966] [PubMed: 21115882]
  26. Bailey HH, Kim K, Verma AK, et al.: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 skin cancer prevention study of {alpha}-difluoromethylornithine in subjects with previous history of skin cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 3 (1): 35-47, 2010. [PMC free article: PMC2804946] [PubMed: 20051371]
  27. Sivapirabu G, Yiasemides E, Halliday GM, et al.: Topical nicotinamide modulates cellular energy metabolism and provides broad-spectrum protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression in humans. Br J Dermatol 161 (6): 1357-64, 2009. [PubMed: 19804594]
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Changes to This Summary (05/13/2022)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Description of the Evidence

Added American Cancer Society as reference 5.

Updated statistics with estimated new cases and deaths for 2022.

Added text to state that after decades of increasing, from 2005 to 2018, the incidence rate of melanoma declined by about 1% per year in individuals younger than 50 years; however, from 2014 to 2018, the incidence rate appeared to stabilize in individuals aged 50 years and older. From 2015 to 2019, mortality rates declined by about 4% per year.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.

About This PDQ Summary

Purpose of This Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about skin cancer prevention. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

Reviewers and Updates

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:

  • be discussed at a meeting,
  • be cited with text, or
  • replace or update an existing article that is already cited.

Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.

Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the NCI website's Email Us. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.

Levels of Evidence

Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.

Permission to Use This Summary

PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated. However, an author would be permitted to write a sentence such as “NCI’s PDQ cancer information summary about breast cancer prevention states the risks succinctly: [include excerpt from the summary].”

The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:

PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Skin Cancer Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/hp/skin-prevention-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 26389494]

Images in this summary are used with permission of the author(s), artist, and/or publisher for use within the PDQ summaries only. Permission to use images outside the context of PDQ information must be obtained from the owner(s) and cannot be granted by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the illustrations in this summary, along with many other cancer-related images, is available in Visuals Online, a collection of over 2,000 scientific images.

Disclaimer

The information in these summaries should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer.gov on the Managing Cancer Care page.

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More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer.gov website can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer.gov through the website’s Email Us.

Copyright Notice
Bookshelf ID: NBK66059PMID: 26389494

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