SUN PROTECTION: Sunscreens and the Prevention of Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Skin Cancer

Skin cancer incidence is highest in white-skinned people. Within this group, skin types I/II (sun sensitive/tan poorly) are at greater risk than skin types III/IV (sun tolerant/tan well). Studies in mice demonstrate that ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced suppression of cell-mediated immune function plays an important role in the development of skin cancer and induces a susceptibility to infectious disease. A similar role is suspected in humans, but we lack quantitative human data to make risk assessments of ambient solar exposure on human health. This study demonstrates that ambient levels of solar UVR, typically experienced within 1 h of exposure to noonday summer sunlight, can suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses in healthy white-skinned humans in vivo (n = 93). There was a linear relationship between increase in erythema and suppression of CHS (P < 0.001), and a moderate sunburn (two minimal erythema doses [2 MED]) was sufficient to suppress CHS in all volunteers by 93%. However, a single suberythemal exposure of either 0.25 or 0.5 MED suppressed CHS responses by 50 and 80%, respectively, in skin types I/II, whereas 1 MED only suppressed CHS by 40% in skin types III/IV. The two- to threefold greater sensitivity of skin types I/II for a given level of sunburn may play a role in their greater sensitivity to skin cancer.

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Reactivity to Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Monitoring Using Personal Exposure Devices; Longitudinal Observational Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.29694 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bridget G. Parsons ◽

Elizabeth S. Nagelhout ◽

Ali P. Wankier ◽

Nan Hu ◽

Riley Lensink ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Cancer ◽

Ultraviolet Radiation ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Sun Protection ◽

Monitoring Device ◽

Cancer Worry ◽

Protective Behaviors ◽

Sunscreen Use ◽

Monitoring Devices ◽

Over Time

BACKGROUND Emerging ultraviolet radiation (UVR) monitoring devices may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into skin cancer prevention interventions. However, little is known about the effect of using a wearable UVR monitor on adult’s and children’s sun protection related behaviors and attitudes (e.g., cancer worry, perceived risk). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine potential reactivity associated with a wearable personal UVR monitor, specifically effects associated with reported sun protective behaviors and skin cancer-related attitudes. METHODS Child-parent dyads (n=97 dyads) were asked to wear a UVR monitoring device during waking hours for two weeks. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing sun protective behaviors, sunburn, tanning, skin self-exam, skin cancer related knowledge, perceived risk, cancer worry, response efficacy, and intentions to change behaviors over the two-week period. Linear regressions were conducted to investigate change over time in outcomes, and to account for the role of season of study participation. RESULTS ion outcomes including time spent outdoors, sunscreen use, reapplication, and unintentional tanning. Additionally, season of participation was associated with several outcomes including sunscreen use, reapplication, and unintentional tanning. In contrast, there were no significant changes over time in children’s and parent’s UVR exposure, sunburn occurrence, or sun protection behaviors and related attitudes. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study suggest that daily use of a UVR monitoring device over a two-week period may result in changes in certain sun protective behaviors. These results highlight the importance of identifying and addressing potential reactivity to UVR monitoring devices, especially in the context of skin cancer preventive intervention research.

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