Relationship between sunscreen use and skin cancer incidence

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation that penetrates the skin and cause damage in the DNA and RNA. These damages lead to increased resistance of keratinocytes to apoptosis, and this way resulting in the accumulation of DNA’s damage and proteins, facilitating, in predisposed individuals and exposed to sunlight, carcinogenesis. Cutaneous melanoma, which is one of the malignant tumors with a higher incidence of metastases being originated in the melanocytes, resulting in increased cell proliferation and invasion carcinogens. It can be classified in four types as lentigo maligna melanoma, spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma and acral melanoma. Thus, the most effective way of preventing these changes would be lower exposure to the sunlight along with the appropriate use of sunscreen, which are classified into two types: organic (chemical) and inorganic (physical). The effectiveness is given through its capacity of absorption of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, in this work a search was done with the students of the Centro Universitário Hermínio Ometto – FHO|UNIARARAS, of both sexes in the age group of 18 to 25 years, to prove the relation of the proper use of sunscreen to filter the incidence of skin cancer. A total of 245 questionnaires, 73% female and 27% male. Through these surveys, we analyze the predominant ethnicity and skin type, the use of sunscreen, the range of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the most commonly used FPS, reapplication of sunscreen and cases of skin lesions personal and family. Thus, we suggest that there was no relationship between the proper uses of sunscreen to filter the incidence of skin cancer.