RESUMEN
Melanoma is an important public health problem in the United States and worldwide. The incidence of melanoma continues to increase at a high rate and deaths from melanoma are also increasing. The endogenous risk factors that are currently recognized are in many cases surrogates for genetic markers yet to be determined. Exogenous risk factors need to be better defined and understood to help develop better public education programs that can change risk behaviors and subsequently lower future incidence and mortality from melanoma.
Asunto(s)
Melanoma/etiología , Nevo/complicaciones , Neoplasias Cutáneas/etiología , Luz Solar/efectos adversos , Detección Precoz del Cáncer , Humanos , Incidencia , Melanoma/etnología , Melanoma/mortalidad , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Neoplasias Cutáneas/etnología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/mortalidad , Baño de Sol/estadística & datos numéricos , Tasa de Supervivencia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Total cumulative sun exposure is associated with the development of squamous cell and basal cell cancers, whereas intense intermittent sun exposure is associated with the development of melanoma. Exposure to UV radiation is the only known modifiable cause of melanoma, but the role of sunscreen in melanoma prevention remains somewhat controversial. This article discusses how UV radiation contributes to the pathogenesis of melanoma, how sunscreen modulates the action of UV radiation on the skin, and the effect of sunscreen on the risk of developing melanoma. A review of available sunscreen agents and their sun-protective properties is also included.