Aspirin May Help Prevent Skin Cancer

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Aspirin May Help Prevent Skin Cancer

We all know the risks of with spending too much time in the sun. Ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, which is why we – or at least, the more cautious among us – put on sunscreen before we set off on an extended outing.

But it turns out there’s another preventative measure that can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer, one you may already be taking. 

A new study reports that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include such common drugs as ibuprofen and aspirin, can reduce a person’s likelihood of a certain type of skin cancer by 18 percent.

A Likely Link

Previous studies have found that NSAIDs can help prevent colon, breast, lung and prostate cancers. Researchers also suspected that the drugs might prove effective against a common type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, whose dark-colored tumors invade and damage surrounding skin tissue. NSAIDs have been shown to inhibit the action of an enzyme known as COX-2, which is released by skin cells in response to UV light exposure.

The results of the analysis were clear: the use of non-aspirin NSAIDs reduced individuals’ risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 15 percent. When aspirin was included in the data, the risk dropped even further, by a total of 18 percent. The findings appear in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

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