Effects of sunscreen on skin cancer and photoaging
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Application of sunscreen to the skin is widely used as an adjunct strategy, along with wearing protective clothing and seeking shade, to protect against skin cancer and photoaging that result from excessive sun exposure. Many epidemiological studies of case–control and cohort study design have studied the effects of sunscreen use on skin cancer, and more recently photoaging, but their findings have been mostly uninformative. This review of results of randomized controlled trials shows that the evidence, though limited, supports beneficial effects of sunscreen application on the occurrence of skin cancers and skin photoaging.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Sunscreens may prevent erythema, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and photoageing, but this is contested and their ability to prevent malignant melanoma is yet to be fully established.
“There is evidence that suggests sunscreens may prevent a range of UVR-induced clinical outcomes including erythema (sunburn), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) [15] and photoageing [16], however this is contested [17] and their ability to prevent malignant melanoma (MM) is yet to be fully established [18, 19].”
From Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids for Skin Photoprotection (2019) · cites this paper as [16]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
A systematic review of worldwide incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer
Lomas, A., Leonardi‐Bee, J., & Bath-Hextall, F. J. (2012) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10830.x · Cited by 1,943 · see citing works
Mechanisms of photoaging and chronological skin aging
Fisher, G. J., Kang, S., Varani, J., Bata-Csorgo, Z., Wan, Y., Datta, S., & Voorhees, J. J. (2002) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.138.11.1462 · Cited by 1,849 · see citing works
Green, A., Williams, G., Nèale, R., Hart, V., Leslie, D., Parsons, P., Marks, G. C., Gaffney, P., Battistutta, D., Frost, C., et al. (1999) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(98)12168-2 · Cited by 976 · see citing works
Self-citationA review of human carcinogens--part D: radiation
El Ghissassi, F., Baan, R., Straif, K., Grosse, Y., Secretan, B., Bouvard, V., Benbrahim-Tallaa, L., Guha, N., Freeman, C., Galichet, L., et al. (2009) · The Lancet Oncology · doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(09)70213-x · Cited by 900 · see citing works
Reduced melanoma after regular sunscreen use: randomized trial follow-up
Green, A. C., Williams, G. M., Logan, V., & Strutton, G. M. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2010.28.7078 · Cited by 799 · see citing works
Self-citationReduction of Solar Keratoses by Regular Sunscreen Use
Thompson, S., Jolley, D., & Marks, R. (1993) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199310143291602 · Cited by 782 · see citing works
Photoageing: mechanism, prevention and therapy
Yaar, M., & Gilchrest, B. A. (2007) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08108.x · Cited by 755 · see citing works
MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF SOLAR KERATOSES TO SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
Marks, R., Rennie, G. E., & Selwood, T. S. (1988) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91658-3 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
A review of skin ageing and its medical therapy
GILCHREST, B. A. (1996) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.1996.d01-1088.x · Cited by 444 · see citing works
High Sun Protection Factor Sunscreens in the Suppression of Actinic Neoplasia
Naylor, M. F. (1995) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.1995.01690140054008 · Cited by 409 · see citing works
Prolonged prevention of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin by regular sunscreen use
van der Pols, J. C., Williams, G. M., Pandeya, N., Logan, V., & Green, A. C. (2006) · Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention · doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-06-0352 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Self-citationOCKELBO DISEASE: EPIDEMIC ARTHRITIS-EXANTHEMA SYNDROME IN SWEDEN CAUSED BY SINDBIS-VIRUS LIKE AGENT
Skogh, M., & Espmark, Å. (1982) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(82)91834-7 · Cited by 347 · see citing works
The role of elastin and collagen in cutaneous aging: intrinsic aging versus photoexposure.
Uitto, J. (2008) · PubMed · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen Use and the Development of New Nevi in White Children
Gallagher, R. P., Rivers, J. K., Lee, T. K., Bajdik, C. D., McLean, D. I., & Coldman, A. J. (2000) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.283.22.2955 · Cited by 294 · see citing works
Cigarette Smoking: Risk Factor for Premature Facial Wrinkling
Kadunce, D. P., Burr, R., Gress, R. E., Kanner, R. E., Lyon, J. L., & Zone, J. J. (1991) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-114-10-840 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Nambour Study Group, Green, A. C., Battistutta, D., Hart, V., LESLIE, D. L., & Weedon, D. D. (1996) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008875 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Self-citationDarlington, S., Williams, G., Neale, R., Frost, C., & Green, A. (2003) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.139.4.451 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Self-citationBauer, J. M., & Garbe, C. (2003) · Pigment Cell Research · doi:10.1034/j.1600-0749.2003.00047.x · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Facial wrinkling in men and women, by smoking status.
Ernster, V. L., Grady, D., Miike, R., Black, D., Selby, J. V., & Kerlikowske, K. M. (1995) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.85.1.78 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Sunscreen use and the risk for melanoma: a quantitative review
Dennis, L. K., Beane Freeman, L. E., & VanBeek, M. J. (2003) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-12-200312160-00006 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Sunscreen and Prevention of Skin Aging: A Randomized Trial
Hughes, M. C. B., Williams, G. M., Baker, P., & Green, A. C. (2013) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002 · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Self-citationEide, M. J., & Weinstock, M. A. (2005) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.141.4.477 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Update on the Current State of Melanoma Incidence
Little, E. G., & Eide, M. J. (2012) · Dermatologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.det.2012.04.001 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
The Relationship of Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas to Solar Keratoses
Marks, R. (1988) · Archives of Dermatology · doi:10.1001/archderm.1988.01670070027013 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
High Incidence and Regression Rates of Solar Keratoses in a Queensland Community
Frost, C., Williams, G. M., & Green, A. C. (2000) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00048.x · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Self-citationThe clinical identification and quantification of photodamage
Griffiths, C. E. M. (1992) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1992.tb16986.x · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Holman, C., Armstrong, B. K., EVANS, P. R., LUMSDEN, G. J., DALLIMORE, K. J., Meehan, C., BEAGLEY, J., & GIBSON, I. M. (1984) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1984.tb07458.x · Cited by 110 · see citing works
The effects of chronic sunscreen use on the histologic changes of dermatoheliosis
Boyd, A. S., Naylor, M., Cameron, G. S., Pearse, A. D., Gaskell, S. A., & Neldner, K. H. (1995) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90284-8 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Green, A. C., Battistutta, D., Hart, V., Leslie, D., Marks, G. C., Williams, G. M., Gaffney, P. T., Parsons, P. G., Hirst, L. W., Frost, C., et al. (1994) · Controlled Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/0197-2456(94)90008-6 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Self-citationEstimating the Attributable Fraction for Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Nevi and Melanoma
Olsen, C. M., Carroll, H. J., & Whiteman, D. C. (2010) · Cancer Prevention Research · doi:10.1158/1940-6207.capr-09-0108 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Time trends and latitudinal differences in melanoma thickness distribution in Australia, 1990–2006
Baade, P. D., Meng, X., Youlden, D. R., Aitken, J. F., & Youl, P. (2011) · International Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1002/ijc.25996 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Dubas, L. E., & Ingraffea, A. (2013) · Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2012.10.003 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Green, A. C., Hughes, M. C. B., McBride, P., & Fourtanier, A. M. (2010) · Dermatology · doi:10.1159/000322623 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Self-citationPoint: Sunscreen Use Is a Safe and Effective Approach to Skin Cancer Prevention
Green, A. C., & Williams, G. M. (2007) · Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention · doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-07-0477 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Self-citationGarside, R., Pearson, M., & Moxham, T. (2009) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/cyp060 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Premature ageing of the skin in a Queensland population
Green, A. C. (1991) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb93845.x · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationSkin surface topography grading is a valid measure of skin photoaging
Battistutta, D., Pandeya, N., Strutton, G., Fourtanier, A. M., Tison, S., & Green, A. C. (2006) · Photodermatology Photoimmunology & Photomedicine · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0781.2006.00194.x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationIngraffea, A. (2013) · Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2012.11.007 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Suppa, M., Elliott, F., Mikeljevic, J. S., Mukasa, Y., Chan, M., Leake, S., Karpavicius, B., Haynes, S., Bakker, E., Peris, K., et al. (2011) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10536.x · Cited by 23 · see citing works
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Sunscreens
Berwick, M. (2010) · Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1038/clpt.2010.227 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Chesnut, C., & Kim, J. (2012) · Journal of Skin Cancer · doi:10.1155/2012/480985 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Hughes, M. C. B., Strutton, G., Fourtanier, A. M., & Green, A. C. (2012) · Photodermatology Photoimmunology & Photomedicine · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0781.2012.00661.x · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationSkin cancer: causes and groups at risk.
Alexander, R. L. (2012) · PubMed · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Ingraffea A. Melanoma. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2013; 21: 33-42.
- Thompson SC, Jolley D, Marks R. Reduc- tion of solar keratoses by regular sun- screen use. N Engl J Med 1993; 329: 1147- 1151.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Environmentally-Induced (Extrinsic) Skin Aging: Exposomal Factors and Underlying Mechanisms
Krutmann, J., Schikowski, T., Morita, A., & Berneburg, M. (2021) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jid.2020.12.011 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Sunscreen photoprotection and vitamin D status
Passeron, T., Bouillon, R., Callender, V., Cestari, T., Diepgen, T. L., Green, A. C., van der Pols, J. C., Bernard, B. A., Ly, F., Bernerd, F., et al. (2019) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/bjd.17992 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Self-citationMycosporine-Like Amino Acids for Skin Photoprotection
Lawrence, K. P., Long, P. F., & Young, A. R. (2019) · Current Medicinal Chemistry · doi:10.2174/0929867324666170529124237 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Polonini, H. C., Brandão, M. A. F., & Raposo, N. R. B. (2014) · RSC Adv. · doi:10.1039/c4ra11577e · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Patel, S. P., & Chien, A. L. (2021) · Dermatologic Surgery · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000002794 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
- Authors
- Iannacone, M. R., Hughes, M. C. B., & Green, A. C.
- Affiliations
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Iannacone, Michelle R.
- Venue
- Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-02-19
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 2-3
- Pages
- 55-61
- ISSN
- 0905-4383 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0781
- OpenAlex
- W1511560612
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 2.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Photodermatology Photoimmunology & Photomedicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council (552429)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
- Keywords
- sunscreen, skin cancer, photoaging, sun exposure, skin cancer prevention, randomized controlled trials, sun protection
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Humans, Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced, Skin Neoplasms, Sunscreening Agents, Skin Aging, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
