Health Buzz: Common Painkillers Protect Against Skin Cancer
tudy: Common Pain Medications Could Lower Skin Cancer Risk
Common painkillers could help protect against skin cancer. A new study by Danish researchers found that people who regularly took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen were less likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma, compared to those who rarely used the medications. The people most likely to benefit were those who took the painkillers at high doses and for years at a time, according to findings published today in the journal Cancer. “NSAIDs work by inhibiting specific enzymes involved in inflammation,” study author Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir, from Aarhus University Hospital, told Reuters Health. “Previous studies show that elevated levels of these enzymes are found in skin cancer and that they are involved in important steps of cancer development such as inhibition of cell death, suppression of the immune system, and stimulation of invasiveness and blood vessel growth.” Still, more research is needed, and the best way to prevent skin cancer is using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding the sun between peak hours.