Ibuprofen 'lowers skin cancer risk'
Taking ibuprofen and other similar painkillers could help protect against skin cancer, say Danish researchers.
They have found that people who frequently took ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen or other 'non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' (NSAIDs) were at a lower risk of two major types of skin cancer.
Exactly how much the risk decreased depended on the length of time they took the drugs, and the strength of the dose.
[Related article: Calcium pills 'double heart attack risk']
Specifically, they found those who had taken three or more courses of prescriptions for NSAIDs were at a 15 per cent lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma and a 13 percent decreased risk for developing malignant melanoma, than those who had two or fewer prescriptions. The link was strongest among those who had taken strong doses for seven years or more.
The findings were based on looking at medical records from almost 20,000 people diagnosed with skin cancer in northern Denmark between 1991 and 2009, and comparing them to 179,000 people without the disease.
The researchers, from Aarhus University Hospital, said the drugs had a "potential cancer-protective effect" although they admitted their report, published in the journal Cancer, was not conclusive.
However, they said five of six studies, including their own, had found a relationship between taking NSAIDs and reduced risk of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
They wrote: "Given the high skin cancer incidence and the widespread and frequent use of NSAIDs, a preventive effect of these agents may have important public health implications."
They believe the drugs work by inhibiting certain enzymes, called cyclooxygenase or 'COX' enzymes, that are involved in the development of a range of cancers.
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs do have potentially harmful health effects as well, though. They have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, irregular heartbeat and miscarriage.
Cancer Research UK said the best way to avoid skin cancer was "to enjoy the sun safely" using shade, clothing and sun cream, and that it was "too soon to say" if aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs reduced the risk of skin cancer.
More from the Telegraph.
