Introduction
Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer globally. Sun exposure, particularly from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is one of the main contributors to the risk of skin cancer. The sun emits three primary forms of ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA photons, which comprise 95 percent of the UV radiation that reaches Earth, are known to deeply enter the skin and majorly contribute to photoaging.
It is well known that UVA photons can cause indirect DNA damage by lowering the activity of the epidermis' antigen-presenting cells and generating free radicals through reactive oxygen species. There are several ways to avoid skin cancer, such as applying sunscreen, wearing appropriate clothing, and developing awareness. Avoiding overexposure to the sun's UV radiation is the main prevention method. This article explains in detail the recent advancements in skin cancer prevention.
What Is Skin Cancer Prevention?
Skin cancer prevention refers to measures taken to lower the chance of getting skin cancer. Cancer prevention lowers the overall number of new cancer cases in a group or population. This will lower the number of fatalities from cancer. To prevent the development of new cancers, scientists look at risk and protective variables. Anything that reduces the possibility of developing cancer is a cancer protective factor; on the other hand, anything that increases the risk of developing the illness is a cancer risk factor.
How Can Someone Prevent the Occurrence of Skin Cancer?
1. Sunscreen Use and Sun Exposure
It has been demonstrated that using sunscreen helps avoid sunburns, stop actinic keratoses from developing into skin cancer, and lessen the symptoms and signs of actinic keratoses that already exist. Skin experts recommend the following to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer:
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Use UV-blocking sunscreen.
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Avoid spending extended periods outside in the sun, especially during the hottest part of the day.
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When spending time outside, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, sun caps, and sunglasses.
2. Topical Fluorouracil
According to a study, the use of topical Fluorouracil for up to four weeks on sun-damaged skin stopped the development of new actinic keratoses. The areas that received topical Fluorouracil treatment were less likely to progress to skin cancer. There was a reduction in the likelihood of getting skin cancer for a year following treatment.
3. Chemopreventive Medicines
The use of medications, vitamins, or additional agents to try and lower the risk of cancer is known as chemoprevention. The following chemopreventive medicines have been studied to reduce the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
4. Retinoids and Isotretinoin
Retinoids are oral or topical formulations of vitamin A or substances closely related to it. Isotretinoin is a retinoid that is being researched for both cancer prevention and treatment.
5. Vitamin B3
Research indicates that individuals with actinic lesions before starting nicotinamide (vitamin B3) are more likely to have a reduction in the formation of new actinic keratoses lesions. To determine whether nicotinamide stops nonmelanoma skin cancer from developing or returning, more research is required.
What Are the Most Recent Advances for Preventing Skin Cancer?
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Skin malignancies may not develop in the future if premalignant lesions are identified early, eliminated, and treated with photodynamic treatment (PDT) and fluorescence diagnostics (FDAP) using ALA-induced porphyrins (aminolevulinic acid).
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According to research, ALA-PDT prevented mice from developing photocarcinogenesis. Large surface MAL (methyl aminolevulinate)- or ALA-PDT treatment may be able to treat visible actinic keratoses (cutaneous premalignant lesions) as well as prevent skin cancer and the development of new actinic keratoses, according to recent preclinical and clinical investigations.
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In addition to directly destroying target cells and their blood supply, PDT can operate as a biological response modifier, boosting both adaptive and innate immune responses and possibly creating anti-tumor vaccines in situ.
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But to make PDT a more useful technique in dermatology, additional research is needed to understand the processes underlying the prevention of skin cancer by ALA- and MAL-PDT (methyl aminolevulinate). Additionally, the effects of PDT on the immune system have not been well examined.
What Are the Recent Advancements in Skin Cancer Treatment?
Skin cancer rates have been significantly worsened by industrialization, genetic alteration, and rapidly increasing environmental changes. The financial burden, toxicity, and bioavailability of several current treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation, conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, are causing a loss in their efficacy in treating skin cancer and a decrease in patient compliance. To date, there have been several nanotechnological developments that have helped to overcome this constraint. Nanoparticles have provided enormous benefits by serving as drug carriers and therapeutic agents for the amazing treatment of skin cancer. Because of their small size and high surface area to volume ratio, which increase the uptake of skin tumors by their leaky vasculature, nanoparticles have a greater therapeutic effect.
Using lasers and photosensitizers, photodynamic treatment (PDT) is a unique non-invasive method that destroys skin cancer cells. First, photosensitizers are applied to the tumor site to cause them to accumulate. Next, a laser beam is used to irradiate the area, producing singlet oxygen along with other reactive oxygen species from the photosensitizers that ultimately kill tumor cells. Hemaporphyrin derivatives, 5-aminolevulinic acid, boron-dipyrromethene, and other similar compounds are a few of the most often utilized photosensitizers. Research has demonstrated that a combinatorial method, including topical anticancer medicines and PDT, is very successful in eliminating skin tumors. The method's disadvantage is that deep-seated, expensive tumors cannot be efficiently killed.
Conclusion
The majority of skin cancers are preventable, but it requires public awareness. Skin cancer prevention includes several strategies meant to lower the chance of getting skin cancer. The public has to be aware of all the risk factors for skin cancer. It is recommended that individuals who choose an outdoor lifestyle wear sun-protective attire, give up smoking, apply UV protection sunscreen generously, and wear eyewear. Several recent advances are being made in skin cancer prevention using newer methodologies and research.
