A randomized controlled trial to assess sunscreen application and beta carotene supplementation in the prevention of solar keratoses
Abstract
Background Solar keratoses (SKs) are among the strongest determinants of skin cancer, but little is known about the success of measures to control these common skin tumors. Objective To determine whether daily sunscreen application and/or beta carotene supplementation retards the rate of occurrence of SKs in adults in the medium term. Design Randomized controlled trial conducted between February 1992 and August 1996. Setting General community of the subtropical township of Nambour, Australia (latitude, 26 degrees south). Participants A total of 1621 adults aged 25 to 74 years. Interventions Participants were randomized to daily use of sunscreen (application of a high-protection sunscreen to their head, neck, arms, and hands every morning) or application of sunscreen at their usual discretionary rate. They were also randomly assigned to take either one 30-mg tablet of beta carotene or one placebo tablet each day. Main outcome measure Change in the prevalent number of SKs in the intervention group relative to change in the control group. Results The ratio of SK counts in 1994 relative to 1992 was lower in people randomized to daily sunscreen use (1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.39) than in those randomized to discretionary sunscreen use (1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.84). This 24% reduction is equivalent to the prevention of an average of 1 additional SK per person over that time. A reduction in the rate of change of SK prevalence was also seen in the sunscreen in…
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Sunscreen is effective in decreasing the number of actinic keratoses.
“Sunscreen is effective in decreasing the number of actinic keratoses (46)”
From Photoprotection: a Review of the Current and Future Technologies (2010) · cites this paper as [46]
Cites
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- Authors
- Darlington, S., Williams, G., Neale, R., Frost, C., & Green, A.
- Affiliations
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Neale, Rachel
- Venue
- Archives of Dermatology
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2003-04-01
- Volume
- 139
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 451-5
- ISSN
- 0003-987X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2034256479
- Cited by
- 238
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 9.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral Health Pathology and Treatment
- Keywords
- actinic keratosis, sunscreen use, beta-carotene supplementation, skin cancer prevention, sun protection, adults, subtropical climate
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Humans, Keratosis, Middle Aged, Sunlight, Sunscreening Agents, beta Carotene
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