Elise Minton Tabin

 A new study published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology link men who use aspirin daily to an increased risk of potentially developing melanoma. In the study, the medical records of more than 195,000 non-melanoma patients ages 18 to 89 years old were studied over a five-year period. More than 1,100 of the patients were exposed to aspiring for one year, if not more.

Research findings show that of the patients using aspirin, 2.19 percent developed melanoma compared to 0.86 percent of the non-aspirin exposed subjects. Men, in particular, are at risk for developing melanoma twice more than those not taking aspirin. And when women were assessed, those who take aspirin regularly did not have an elevated risk of melanoma.

A common over-the-counter pain reliever, up until now, there has been no association between aspirin and melanoma. But to further reduce the incidence, sun avoidance and sun safety, as well as regular skin checks and wearing sunscreen daily, should always be the first line of defense.