COLUMBUS – With the approach of summer we can expect to slap on a lot of sunscreen and new research at OSU underscores the importance of protecting our skin whenever we are outdoors.
Applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 might delay the onset of skin cancer, according to studies at the Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“We think by beginning to do really better research in this area, we might be able to develop even more efficacious sunscreens that would prevent this increase that we continue to see, ” said the center’s Dr. Christin Burd.
Melanoma is one of the few types of cancer that have continued to grow, with about 3 percent more cases diagnosed each year.
Burd with says a range of sunscreens were applied to mice prior to exposure to U-V-B light, and all postponed the onset of melanoma and reduced the incidence of tumors. She says additional research will continue to determine which ingredients in sunscreen provide the strongest protection against melanoma development.
According to the findings, up until now it has not been possible to test whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer, because they are typically manufactured as cosmetics and tested in human volunteers or synthetic skin models.
Animal testing opponents argue that experiments on animals are cruel and do not contribute meaningfully to medical advances.