Current State of Skin Cancer Prevention

Despite the implementation of numerous preventive campaigns and programs, the incidence of skin cancer deaths continues to rise. To assess the effectiveness of skin cancer prevention strategies, a systematic review conducted by Spanish authors examined articles published over the past decade. A total of 63 works were included in the review, with a focus on strategies targeting melanoma prevention or skin cancer prevention in general.
Among the primary prevention strategies studied, educational programs emerged as the most extensively researched approach. These programs have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors related to sun protection and the importance of self-examination. However, it is worth noting that the use of sunscreen as a preventive measure may inadvertently lead to increased sun exposure due to a false sense of security and, at times, improper application. Regarding secondary prevention methods, dermoscopy, in combination with a comprehensive clinical history and visual inspection, has shown promise in facilitating early diagnosis of melanoma. Conversely, smartphone applications designed for skin cancer diagnosis were found to be unreliable, as they are primarily designed to differentiate melanoma from other skin lesions. On the other hand, artificial intelligence has emerged as a valuable tool for early detection of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, even in primary care settings. This innovative approach involves the development of neural networks capable of analyzing images of skin lesions to provide accurate diagnoses.