A new study from the journal cancer suggests aspirin, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help to prevent against skin cancer. It can reduce the risk of some form of skin cancer.
Combing 18 years of data, Danish and American researchers analyzed the drug regimens of roughly 200,000 people-about 10 percent of whom had developed skin cancer. Those who frequently popped non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen lowered their risk for squamous cell carcinoma by 15 percent. Their risk for cancerous melanoma also dropped 13 percent.
The researchers said the decreased skin cancer risk was especially apparent when the people took them for at least seven years, and with “high-intensity use,”
Aspirin has been turned out to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps, in some studies in earlier this year, researchers found that people were less likely to grow or die from cancers-including those of the lung, prostate, and bladder-if they took aspirin daily.
However, it is too soon to recommend all skin cancer patients to take these medications. The important things to preventing skin cancer haven’t changed: use sunscreen, protective clothing, limit sun exposure, and avoid indoor tanning. To confirm the effects of aspirin on skin cancer, it is necessary to have more researches.