Advancing New Views on the Causes and Prevention of Skin Cancer and Aging of the Skin

Main Article Content

Win L. Chiou, Ph. D.

Abstract

The prevailing belief is that sunlight, particularly UV rays, leads to skin damage that accumulates, potentially causing skin cancer and photoaging. Consequently, avoiding or reducing sun exposure is widely advised. This stance, however, challenges the principle of genomic stability, which is essential for the healthy and appearance-preserving progression of generations, potentially except when damage stems from severe sunburn. This leads to the concept of non-cumulative, non-detrimental DNA damage. Such a groundbreaking perspective could profoundly impact research into the causes and prevention of skin cancer and skin aging. Key insights include: the key to prevent skin cancer is to prevent severe sunburn, not chronic moderate sun  exposure that could guard against skin cancer; sunscreen is not recommended for intense intermittent sun exposure; long-term regular sun exposure may not lead to wrinkles and sagging; the intrinsic factor dominates skin aging; the UVA blockers in sunscreens might be unnecessary; traditional methods of using bolus UV doses could be problematic; low SPF sunscreens (2-8) might suffice; ultraviolet-protective clothing is advisable; some issues related to tanning salons and tinted glasses are raised; the critical role of water and nutrients is emphasized; effects of wind and heat are considered; and tissue-regenerating moisturizers are recommended for skin protection.

Keywords: skin cancer, skin aging, photoaging, sunscreen, sunburn, stem cells, wrinkles, melanoma, genome homeostasis, DNA lesions and mutation

Article Details

How to Cite
CHIOU, Win L.. Advancing New Views on the Causes and Prevention of Skin Cancer and Aging of the Skin. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 4, may 2024. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5292>. Date accessed: 09 oct. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i4.5292.
Section
Research Articles

References

1. Chiou WL. Perspectives on the FDA’s sunscreen policy: New aging theory, sunlight benefits, enhanced immunity, COVID-19 mortality, modelling analyses, melanoma risks and etiology. J Dermatol Res. 2021;2:1-13.

2. Chiou WL. Severe sunburn triggers the development of skin cancers: non-cumulative / overwhelming uv damages, uva rays, human papillomavirus, indoor/outdoor workers and animal models. J Dermatol Res. 2022;3:1-17.

3. Chiou WL. Prevention of Skin Cancer: Healthy Sun Exposure and No sunscreen for Intense Intermittent Exposure; Photoaging Theories Questioned and New Strategies. J Dermatol Res. 2022;3(3):1-16.

4. Chiou WL. We may need to reconsider when to apply sunscreen in our daily life. Ann Dermatol Res. 2019; 3:007-10.

5. Saini N, Giacobone CK, Klimczak LJ. UV-exposure, endogenous DNA damage, and DNA replication errors shape the spectra of genome changes in human skin. PLOS Genetics. 2021.

6. Tubbs A, Nussenzweig A. Endogenous DNA damage as a source of genomic instability in cancer. Cell. 2017;168(4):644-56.

7. Jackson SP, Jiri Bartek J. The DNA-damage response in human biology and disease. Nature. 2009;461(7267):1071-8.

8. Schuch AP, Moreno NC, Schuch NJ. Sunlight damage to cellular DNA: Focus on oxidatively generated lesions. Free Radic Bio Med. 2017;107:110-24.

9. Jackson SP, Jiri Bartek J. The DNA-damage response in human biology and disease. Nature. 2009; 461(7267):1071-8.

10. Felton SJ, Cooke MS, Kift R, Berry JL. Concurrent beneficial (vitamin D production) and hazardous (cutaneous DNA damage) impact of repeated low-level summer sunlight exposures. Br J Dermatol. 2016;175(6):1320-8.

11. Winter S. Vink AA et al. Solar-simulated adaptation and its effect on subsequent UV-induced epidermal DNA damage. J Invest Dermatol 2001; 117:678-682.

12. Carvalho L.A.C. Aguijar FC, et al. Acral melanoma: New insights into the immune and genomic landscape. Neoplasia. 2023 Dec;46: 100947.

13. Amaro-Ortiz A, Yan B, D’Orazio JA. Ultraviolet radiation, aging and the skin: prevention of damage by topical cAMP manipulation. Molecules. 2014;19(5): 6202-19.

14. Lam FC. The DNA damage response – from cell biology to human disease. J Transl Genet Genom. 2022;6:204-22.

15. Saini N, Giacobone CK, Klimczak LJ. UV-exposure, endogenous DNA damage, and DNA replication errors shape the spectra of genome changes in human skin. PLOS Genetics. 2021.

16. Chiou WL. Aging kinetics of human hearts and skin: New aging theories and implications in the use of sunscreens. Dermatol Arch. 2017;1:1-5.

17. Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP, Watson M. Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behavioral characteristics with sunburn among US adults. JAMA Dermatol. 2018; 154:561-8.

18. Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ. History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies. Amer J Epidemiol. 2016;183:824-33.

19. Gandini S, Sera F, Cattaruzza MS. Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: II. Sun exposure. Eur J Cancer. 2005;41:45-60.

20. Ayanlowo OO, Adegbulu AA, Cole‐Adeife O. Cutaneous cancers in the Africans: Systematic review. Journal: Dermatological Reviews, 2022, № 6, p. 369-383.

21. Cocelho SG, Yin L, Smuda C, Mahns A. Photobiological implications of melanin photoprotection after UVB-induced tanning of human skin but not UVA-induced tanning. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2015;28(2):210-6.

22. Nole G, Johnson AW. An analysis of cumulative lifetime solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and the benefits of daily sun protection. Dermatol Ther. 2004;17:57-62.

23. Shuster S, Black M, McVitie E. The influence of age and sex on skin thickness, skin collagen and density. Br J Dermatol. 1975;93:639-43.

24. Fisher GJ, Datta SC, Talwar SH, Wang ZQ. Molecular basis of sun-induced premature skin ageing and retinoid antagonism. Nature. 1996;379:335-9.

25. Kim DJ,Iwasaki A, Chien AL, Kang S. UVB-mediated DNA damage induces matrix metalloproteinases to promote photoaging in an AhR- and SP1-dependent manner. JCI Insight. 2022;7(9):e156344.

26. Li L, Mac-Mary S, Sainthillier JM, et al. (2006) Age-related changes of the cutaneous microcirculation in vivo. Gerontology 52: 142-153.

27. Alfredsson L, Armstrong BK, Butterfield DA. Insufficient sun exposure has become a real public health problem. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(14):5014.

28. Kaskel P, Sander S, Kron M, Kind P, et al. Outdoor activities in childhood: a protective factor for cutaneous melanoma? Results of a case-control study in 271 matched pairs. Br J Dermatol 2001; 145:602–609.

29. Berwick M, Armstrong BK, Ben-Porat L, Fine J, et al. Sun exposure and mortality from melanoma. J National Cancer Inst. 2005; 97:195-199.

30. Lindqvist PG, Epstein E, Landin-Olsson M, Ingvar C, et al. Avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for all- cause mortality: results from the melanoma in southern Sweden cohort. J Intern Med. 2014; 276:77-86.

31. Chiou WL. Pharmacodynamic modeling of sunscreens: new efficacy evaluation, risks of sunburn and melanoma and very low to very high sun protection factor. J Dermatol Res Ther. 2020;1:20-9.

32. Heerfordt IM, Torsness LR, Philipsen PA (2018). Sunscreen use optimized by two consecutive applications. PLoS One. 13(3): e0193916.

33. Petersen B, Thieden E, Philipsen PA, Heydenreich J. A sun holiday is a sunburn holiday. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2013;29:221-4.

34. Green AC, et al (2011) Reduced melanoma after regular sunscreen use: Randomized trial follow-up. J Clin Oncol. 29: 257-263.

35. Waldman R A, Grant-Kels J M. The role of sunscreen in the prevention of cutaneous melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019; 80:574-576.

36. Watts CG, Drummond M, Goumas C, Schmid H, et al. Sunscreen use and melanoma risk among young Australian adults. JAMA Dermatol. 2018; 154:1001-1009.

37. Aguilera J, de Gálvez MV, Sánchez-Roldán V, Herrera-Ceballos E. New advances in protection against solar ultraviolet radiation in textiles for summer clothing. Photochem Photobiol, 2014 Sep-Oct;90(5):1199-206.

38. Lu JT, Ilyas E. An overview of ultraviolet-protective clothing. Cureus. 2022 July; 14(7): e27333.

39. Gordon JRS, Brieva JC. Unilateral Dermatoheliosis. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:e25.

40. Holliman G, Lowe D, Cohen H, Felton S. ultraviolet radiation-induced production of nitric oxide: a multi-cell and multi-donor analysis. Sci Rep. 2017;7:11105.

41. Cocelho SG, Yin L, Smuda C, Mahns A. Photobiological implications of melanin photoprotection after UVB-induced tanning of human skin but not UVA-induced tanning. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2015;28(2):210-6.

42. Jegasothy SM, Zabolotniaia V, Bielfeldt S. Efficacy of a new topical nano-hyaluronic acid in humans. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7:27-9.

43. Chiou WL, Chiou LL. Aqueous compositions for facial cosmetics. United States Patent No. 6616923 issued on 2003.

44. Chiou WL. Compositions and methods for tissue regeneration. United States Patent No. 10456366 issued on October 9, 2019.

45. Chiou WL. Discovery of Propylene Glycol for its New Powerful Tissue-Regenerative-and-Tissue-Microbicidal Properties in Very Effectively Treating Common Topical Diseases by Scientist, Dr. Win L. Chiou. Press Release published by Cision/PR Newswire.

46. Nisa MU, Huang Y, Benhamed M, Raynaud C. The plant DNA damage response: signaling pathways leading to growth inhibition and putative role in response to stress conditions. Front Plant Sci. 2019.