A higher frequency of painful, blistering sunburns is associated with a raised risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, highlighting the role of both acute and chronic UV exposure, suggests a US study.

The review and meta-analysis of 17 studies, involving almost 321,500 people, found that just one lifetime case of painful, blistering and/or severe sunburn was associated with a 38% increased risk of cutaneous SCC (cSCC).

However, unlike melanoma and BCC, the researchers said cSCC was not significantly influenced by lifetime exposure to sunburns that were not characterised as painful, blistering and/or severe.

“Conventionally, increased cSCC risk has been linked to chronic UV exposure, whereas basal cell carcinoma was thought to be more associated with acute UV exposure,” wrote the research team, led by the University of Texas.