Photoprotection for Skin Cancer: What’s New

TL;DR

This paper reviews new strategies for skin cancer prevention, including sunscreens, antioxidants, and DNA-repair enzymes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive photoprotection.

Contribution

The paper provides an updated review of emerging photoprotective strategies and their effectiveness in preventing skin cancer.

Findings

Daily sunscreen use reduces actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk individuals.

DNA-repair enzymes and antioxidants like Polypodium leucotomos extract show preventive effects on skin damage and carcinogenesis.

Visible light and broad-spectrum protection are increasingly recognized as important in skin cancer prevention.

Abstract

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and excessive exposure to sunlight is its main preventable cause. This review summarizes current evidence on sunscreens, oral supplements, antioxidants, and DNA-repair enzymes for preventing actinic keratoses and skin cancer. Regular daily sunscreen use reduces actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in individuals at high risk, while additional strategies may provide further benefit. Emerging evidence also suggests that visible light and other environmental factors contribute to skin damage and may play a role in skin carcinogenesis. The findings discussed here highlight the importance of comprehensive and individualized photoprotection strategies to improve skin cancer prevention and guide future research and clinical practice.

Background: Skin cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. Although photoprotection is the cornerstone of skin cancer prevention, evidence regarding the role of other radiations different from the ultraviolet radiation and the efficacy of sunscreens, oral supplements, DNA-repair enzymes, and antioxidants continues to evolve. Objectives: To review the current evidence on photoprotective strategies and assess their role in preventing actinic keratoses (AK), keratinocyte carcinomas and melanoma. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed (2010–2025), including studies in English and Spanish. Search terms comprised “photoprotection,” “sunscreen,” “oral photoprotection,” “skin cancer,” “melanoma,” “keratinocyte cancer,” “UV radiation,” “non-melanoma skin cancer” and related concepts. Articles were selected for clinical relevance. Results: Daily sunscreen use significantly reduces AK and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk individuals, although evidence for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma prevention remains heterogeneous. Balanced broad-spectrum protection, including UVA and visible light filtering, seems to be important, whereas high-energy visible light needs further investigation. DNA-repair enzymes have shown reductions in cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and clinical improvement of AK. Antioxidants such as Polypodium leucotomos extract, topical and oral, exhibit preventive effects on actinic damage and carcinogenesis. Topical and especially oral nicotinamide demonstrate chemopreventive potential in immunocompetent patients. Vulnerable populations—including transplant recipients, XP patients, individuals with albinism, and outdoor workers—require tailored photoprotection strategies with demonstrated benefit. Conclusions: Photoprotection extends far beyond UV filters, encompassing biological ingredients, antioxidants, oral supplements, and broad-spectrum strategies that target the full exposome. Comprehensive, behaviour-based photoprotection programmes are essential for high-risk groups.