Sunscreen Protection of Melanocytic Nevi: More Than Meets the Eye

Subclinical changes occur in nevi exposed to sunlight; sunscreens and physical barriers protect against some, but not all, UV-related changes.

Melanocytic nevi are considered melanoma precursors, and people with many melanocytic nevi are at increased risk for melanoma. Sun exposure, as well as being an etiologic agent for melanoma, also produces clinical, histological, and dermatoscopic changes in melanocytic nevi. Two study groups investigated whether topical sunscreens and opaque barriers prevented alterations in melanocytic lesions.

Carrera and colleagues covered half the area of 23 dysplastic nevi with either an opaque barrier or a broad-spectrum sun protection factor 50 sunscreen and exposed the lesions to ultraviolet B light at twice the minimal erythema dose. Seven days after exposure, erythema, pigmentation, and scaling were increased compared with preexposure. These effect…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)