Skin cancer risk for patients with vitiligo does not increase after UVB phototherapy

For patients with vitiligo, extended treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy does not lead to an increase in their risk of developing skin cancer, according to a new study. The study, published online ahead of print in JAMA Dermatology (Mar. 11, 2020), took a deeper look at UVB phototherapy, which is often used for vitiligo patients.

Discovery of new RNA molecule could be key for early detection of skin cancer

The discovery of a new RNA molecule could lead to earlier detection of squamous cell carcinoma in the future, according to a new study. The study, published in the American Journal of Pathology (Feb. 2020; 190(2):503-517), found that the molecule, named PRECSIT, is integral in determining how squamous cell carcinoma grows and spreads.

Lack of skin self-examinations may lead to higher skin cancer mortality in rural communities

Lack of self-examinations may be a key reason that certain populations in rural areas face higher skin cancer mortality rates, according to a new study. The study, which looked at sparsely populated rural communities in the Western United States found that a chronic lack of self examination was the biggest obstacle to early detection of skin cancer. These findings, made by researchers at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, were published online ahead of print in Psychology, Health, & Medicine (Dec. 17, 2019).