"Researchers in Denmark and the U.S. found that people taking common painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen were less likely to develop skin cancer  including squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma  especially when they took the drugs for at least seven years or used them at least twice a week. Its not the first study to show a potential anticancer effect of aspirin and other similar painkillers  a class of medications known and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. Previous studies have found that aspirin users enjoyed a lower risk of colon cancer a trial httphealthland.time.comaspirinawonderdrugstudiesshowitmaypreventcancer published earlier this year concluded that people who take a daily aspirin have as much as a  lower risk of colon lung and prostate cancers httphealthland.time.commenshouldforgopsatestingforprostatecancerpaneladvises compared with nonusers. In the current trial researchers looked at all cancer cases in the Danish Cancer Registry from  to  and compared this data against that of a prescriptiondrug database that recorded patients histories of using aspirin NSAIDs or COX inhibitors drugs that all work in similar ways to reduce inflammation and dull pain. MORE Will an Aspirin Prolong Your Life It Depends httphealthland.time.comwillanaspirinprolongyourlifeitdepends Overall  cases of skin cancer were included in the study. Each case was compared to  matched controls who did not develop the disease. Over the study period people who filled more than two prescriptions for aspirin NSAIDS or COX inhibitors had a  lower risk of melanoma and a  lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma than those who filled fewer prescriptions the researchers found. The longer people took the drugs and the higher the dose the greater the anticancer benefit. Longer higherintensity use for example led to a  lower risk of melanoma a  lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma and a  lower risk of basal cell carcinoma the most common form of skin cancer in the U.S. The relationship held even after the researchers adjusted for potential confounders that could affect the risk of skin cancer such as use of other medications. However the researchers didnt have information on other key skin cancer risk factors like exposure to UV radiation. The drugs are thought to counter cancer growth by suppressing inflammatory pathways and stimulating tumors ability to expand and develop blood supplies. Given the high skin cancer incidence and the widespread and frequent use of NSAIDs a preventive effect of these agents may have important public health implications the authors led by Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark wrote. MORE Aspirin a Wonder Drug Studies Show It May Prevent Cancer httphealthland.time.comaspirinawonderdrugstudiesshowitmaypreventcancer In the U.S. skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed affecting more than  million people each year. But taking aspirin and aspirinlike drugs isnt without consequences they may have harmful side effects on the stomach and digestive tract causing bleeding and dangerous ulcers. One COX inhibitor Vioxx was voluntarily pulled http from the market by its maker in  after it was linked to an increased risk of heart disease. But given the growing body of data linking aspirin use to lower cancer risk the researchers say it may be worth factoring in the drugs anticancer effects when patients and doctors discuss options for pain relievers. We hope that the potential cancerprotective effect of NSAIDs will inspire more research on skin cancer prevention Johannesdottir said in a statement. Also this potential cancerprotective effect should be taken into account when discussing benefits and harms of NSAID use."