By PressTV | 29 May 2012

A new study suggests taking aspirin and other similar anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can prevent from several major types of skin cancer.

Danish researchers found that regular consumption of aspirin or similar painkillers could cut the risk of developing skin cancer particularly the most deadly type, malignant melanoma, by about 15%.

The team studied 200,000 participants among which 18,000 were diagnosed with one of the three types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or the rare but more dangerous malignant melanoma.

The results revealed that those who had received NSAIDs for heart conditions or arthritis more frequently were less likely to develop skin cancer.

"We hope that the potential cancer-protective effect of NSAIDs will inspire more research on skin cancer prevention," said study researcher Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.

Although animal studies suggest NSAIDs may block the growth of pre-cancerous skin lesions, it is not yet clear if it has the same effect in humans. Researchers say more research is needed to confirm their findings.

FGP/PKH