DOI: 10.2105/ajph.92.7.1173. Use of Topical Sunscreens and the Risk of Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis of 9067 Patients From 11 Case

Use of Topical Sunscreens and the Risk of Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis of 9067 Patients From 11 Case–Control Studies

10.2105/ajph.92.7.1173

Crossref journal-article

American Public Health Association

American Journal of Public Health (844)

Abstract

Objectives. This study examined the methodology of epidemiological studies that suggest use of topical sunscreen preparations is associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma. Methods. We pooled data from observational studies using a general variance–based meta-analytic method that employed confidence intervals (previously described). The outcome of interest was a summary relative risk (RR) reflecting the risk of melanoma associated with sunscreen use versus nonuse. Sensitivity analyses were performed when necessary to explain any observed statistical heterogeneity. Results. Combining studies that used nonheterogeneous data yielded a summary RR of 1.01, indicating no association between sunscreen use and development of malignant melanoma. Conclusions. The available epidemiological data do not support the existence of a relationship between topical sunscreen use and an increased risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1173–1177)

Bibliography

Huncharek, M., & Kupelnick, B. (2002). Use of Topical Sunscreens and the Risk of Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis of 9067 Patients From 11 CaseâControl Studies. American Journal of Public Health, 92(7), 1173â1177.

Authors 2

Michael Huncharek (first)
Bruce Kupelnick (additional)

References 17 Referenced 144

10.1097/00001622-199603000-00014
10.3109/02841869209089727
10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a036298
10.1097/00008390-199904000-00013
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117359
10.1097/00008390-199502000-00007
10.1097/00008390-199808000-00012
10.1002/ijc.2910230407
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114140
Holman CD, Armstrong BK, Heenan PJ. Relationship of cutaneous malignant melanoma to individual sunlight-exposure habits. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1986;76(3):403–414.
10.1002/ijc.2910420303
10.1111/j.1365-2133.1990.tb08238.x
10.1002/ijc.2910610602
10.1007/BF00051303
Herzfeld PM, Fitzgerald EF, Hwang SA, Stark A. A case-control study of malignant melanoma of the trunk among white males in upstate New York. Cancer Detect Prev. 1993;17(6):601–608.
10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19980812)77:4<533::AID-IJC10>3.0.CO;2-7
Glass R, Johnson B, Vessey M. Accuracy of recall of histories of oral contraceptive use. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1974;28(4):273–275. (10.1136/jech.28.4.273)

Dates

Type	When
Created	16 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 1, 2008, 7:04 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 3 months ago (May 9, 2022, 6:59 p.m.)
Indexed	3 days, 22 hours ago (Aug. 28, 2025, 8:18 a.m.)
Issued	23 years, 2 months ago (July 1, 2002)
Published	23 years, 2 months ago (July 1, 2002)
Published Print	23 years, 2 months ago (July 1, 2002)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Huncharek_2002, title={Use of Topical Sunscreens and the Risk of Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis of 9067 Patients From 11 Case–Control Studies}, volume={92}, ISSN={1541-0048}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/ajph.92.7.1173}, DOI={10.2105/ajph.92.7.1173}, number={7}, journal={American Journal of Public Health}, publisher={American Public Health Association}, author={Huncharek, Michael and Kupelnick, Bruce}, year={2002}, month=jul, pages={1173–1177} }

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  "abstract": "<jats:p> Objectives. This study examined the methodology of epidemiological studies that suggest use of topical sunscreen preparations is associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma. </jats:p><jats:p> Methods. We pooled data from observational studies using a general variance\u2013based meta-analytic method that employed confidence intervals (previously described). The outcome of interest was a summary relative risk (RR) reflecting the risk of melanoma associated with sunscreen use versus nonuse. Sensitivity analyses were performed when necessary to explain any observed statistical heterogeneity. </jats:p><jats:p> Results. Combining studies that used nonheterogeneous data yielded a summary RR of 1.01, indicating no association between sunscreen use and development of malignant melanoma. </jats:p><jats:p> Conclusions. The available epidemiological data do not support the existence of a relationship between topical sunscreen use and an increased risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1173\u20131177) </jats:p>",
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