LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - However, the new study doesn't prove that a link exists on how these medications may stave off skin cancer risk, and indeed, other studies have produced conflicting results.

Researchers, led by Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark compared use of prescription drugs among people with and without the three major types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma.

People who filled more than two NSAID prescriptions from 1991 through 2009 were 15 percent less likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer and 13 percent less likely to develop melanoma than people who filled two or fewer NSAID prescriptions during the study period. Researchers only examined prescription NSAIDs, not over-the-counter forms.

Researchers found that the use of NSAIDs did not affect overall risk for developing basal cell skin cancer. However, they did reduce risk of basal cell skin cancer in body parts -- other than the head and neck, which were not regularly exposed to the sun.

Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City says that "NSAIDs help lower inflammation in the body and reduce expression of COX-2, an enzyme involved in growth of cancers."

In fact, a topical NSAID, Solaraze Gel (diclofenac), is approved for pre-cancerous skin damage known as actinic keratoses.

Even if these results are later confirmed, NSAIDs should never take the place of other skin cancer prevention measures, including the liberal use of sunscreen and wearing sun-protective clothing, Zeichner says. "The positive results from this study will hopefully pave the way for future research on NSAIDs and other ways to treat and prevent skin cancer," he says.

"There is no safe way to tan," he says. "The only safe tan is the one you get from bottle of self-tanning cream." Importantly, "if you protect yourself from the sun, you won't need any preventive treatments."

Julie Russak, MD, a dermatologist in New York City says that NSAIDs are known to help treat painful sunburns, but they do confer their share of risks when used for long periods of time, including bleeding and heart risks.

"Sunburns cause inflammation that may lead to the development of skin cancer," she says. "It is a parallel pathway."

All dermatologists agree that the best way to reduce skin cancer risk is to use sunscreen and avoid burns.

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