Active ingredients in sunscreens may absorbed into skin at higher levels than previously thought

Absorption of the active ingredients in four commercially available sunscreens resulted in plasma concentrations that exceed the FDA safety threshold in participants in a new study. Researchers of the study, published in JAMA (Jan 21, 2020; 323(3):256-267) stressed that these findings do not suggest that individuals should stop using sunscreen.

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).