American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) President Brett M. Coldiron, MD, FAAD issued a statement about sunscreen use and melanoma in response to a study that was recently published in the journal Nature. According to the AAD, the article called attention to the fact that sunscreen alone cannot completely protect people from developing melanoma. For this study, a group of mice was exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The statement from the AAD points out that although all of the mice in the study eventually developed melanoma, the sunscreen-protected mice took significantly longer to develop melanoma than the unprotected mice and developed significantly fewer melanomas.

“This is a powerful opportunity to emphasize two key takeaways: The first is that wearing sunscreen is an important tool in the fight against melanoma. Research has shown that daily sunscreen use can cut the incidence of melanoma in half. The second is that although sunscreen is a critical tool in the fight against skin cancer, it cannot completely ward off the sun's harmful UV rays,” said Dr. Coldiron in the statement. “In order to best reduce your risk of skin cancer, it is equally important to seek shade and wear protective clothing in addition to applying sunscreen to all exposed skin. For maximum protection, the Academy recommends that everyone generously apply a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.”