Sunburn, sunscreens, and phenotypes: some risk factors for cutaneous melanoma in southern Brazil

Abstract

Phototypes I and II, freckles, a large number of acquired nevi, dysplastic nevi, and inadequate photoprotection appeared as risk factors with moderate strength for cutaneous malignant melanoma in the studied population. The color of the eyes and hair showed a very weak statistical significance as a risk factor. Sunscreens showed progressive significance corresponding to an increase in SPF, the best scores in statistical protection being achieved in users of sunscreens with SPF15 or greater. Frequent sunburn episodes appeared as the most important risk factor associated with malignant melanoma in this sample of the white population in southern Brazil.

A precocidade diagnóstica do melanoma cutâneo: uma observação no sul do Brasil

“…Inappropriate habits of sun exposure, whether for leisure or work, can cause sunburns, an important risk factor of melanoma. 4 The number of sunburns throughout life, not only during childhood, increases the risk for the development of melanoma. 19 The association between Breslow thickness and topography is possibly due to the distribution of the different histological types of melanoma.…”

“…3 In Brazil, the population of Rio Grande do Sul is more prone to developing melanoma due to the higher proportion of fair-skinned individuals in relation to other states, as well as the high environmental concentration of UVA due to geographic location and cultural habits such as sun exposure on the beaches during the summer. 4 There are four main types of primary cutaneous melanoma: lentigo maligna melanoma, superficial spreading, nodular and acral lentiginous-. 5 In a study conducted in a hospital in Porto Alegre in 1992, the most common histological type of primary cutaneous melanoma was nodular (36.6%).…”

Melanoma maligno em búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) albinos

“…The high frequency of occurrence of MM is associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The animals of this report were albino, and they were maintained in Rio Grande do Sul, where there are the highest concentration of UV ambient due to its geographical location in Brazil (BAKOS et al, 2002). Animals with little pigmentation in regions with a higher incidence of UV radiation are highly vulnerable to the development of melanomas (GOLDSCHMIDT et al, 1998).…”

Queimaduras e hábitos solares em um grupo de atletas brasileiros

“…The ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been considered in the latest years, as the main environmental risk factor for the development of melanoma and non-melanocytic skin neoplasm (1)(2)(3)(4) . Moreover, it is also responsible for further immediate and long term damage.…”

“…A casecontrol study conducted in the south of Brazil by Bakos et al with patients with melanoma showed history of frequent sunburn as being the main risk factor for the disease development. Besides that, frequent use of sunscreen with Protection Factor (SPF) higher than 15, was identified as having protection action against the melanoma development (1) . Epidemiological studies show that the solar exposure in children and youngsters is closely connected with the development of skin neoplasm in adults (6)(7) .…”