Sunscreen is not enough to protect the skin from life threatening skin cancer such as malignant melanoma, according to research.
A study from UK reveals that sunscreens should be used along with other means of skin protection like hats or staying under the shade. The study shows that UV light can promote cancer in the skin cells.
In the UK, over 13,000 people are diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma every year making it the fifth most common cancer in the country. Sun exposure is one of the major causes of melanoma. However, until now, it is still unclear how UV light actually damages the DNA found in the skin cells.
The study, which was conducted in the University of Manchester, used mice to determine how UV light affects the skin. This helped them learn how sunscreen can actually block the cancer.
According to the head of the study, Professor Richard Marais, the UV light targets the same genes that protect the skin from the harmful effects of the UV light. This only shows how dangerous UV light could get.
This study only shows that sunscreen is not enough to protect the skin from the dangerous effects that the UV light can inflict on the skin.
The sunscreen can lessen the impact of UV on the skin and delay the harmful effects it may bring to the skin, like melanoma. However, it can’t provide complete protection. Even with sunscreen, UV can still induce melanoma on the skin, only in a slower rate.
Cancer Research UK Health Information Head Dr Julia Shar said people think they are invincible from the UV light after putting on sunscreen. But this study shows that sunscreen is not enough. The study shows that it is best not to rely solely on the sunscreen. It is always best to practice best sun protection habits.
