Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Keywords

diet skin cancer photosensitivity dermatology photomedicine

To the Editor,

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a major risk factor for photoaging, photosensitivity, and cutaneous malignancies through the generation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and immune dysregulation.¹ Although sun-protective behaviors remain the cornerstone of prevention, increasing evidence suggests that dietary composition may influence the skin’s response to UV and susceptibility to photocarcinogenesis. Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted worldwide,² yet their effects on photosensitivity and cutaneous malignancy risk remain incompletely understood. We reviewed the available literature examining the relationship between dietary patterns, individual nutrients, photosensitivity, and cutaneous malignancies.

A comprehensive search of CINALH, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus, spanning from 1946 to March 2026, identified studies investigating plant- and animal-derived dietary components in relation to UV-induced erythema, photosensitivity, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). A total of 4560 studies were screened, and 72 studies were included in the final analysis.

The included studies evaluated both whole dietary patterns and individual nutrients with photoprotective or phototoxic potential (Table S1). Tables S2 to S6 summarize the associations between dietary patterns, photosensitivity, and cutaneous malignancy risk.

Plant-derived carotenoids, including β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, demonstrated the most consistent photoprotective effects. Multiple randomized trials reported reductions in UV-induced erythema and increases in minimal erythema dose following prolonged intake, suggesting enhanced resistance to UVR.³ Vitamin E appeared to augment these effects through antioxidant mechanisms. Conversely, furocoumarin-rich foods, including citrus fruits, parsley, and celery were consistently associated with enhanced photosensitivity. Vegans and vegetarians consuming greater quantities of these foods exhibited significantly lower minimal erythema doses and increased UV-induced erythema compared with omnivores.⁴

The relationship between plant-based diets and skin cancer was more heterogeneous. Higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and carotenoid-rich foods was associated with reduced CMM and SCC risk in several observational studies. In contrast, high intake of citrus products, dietary furocoumarins, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, and certain antioxidant nutrients was associated with increased risks of BCC, SCC, or melanoma in other cohorts, while numerous large prospective studies reported no significant associations. These conflicting findings suggest that individual nutrients may exert both protective and phototoxic effects depending on dietary source, dose, and UV exposure.

Evidence regarding animal-derived foods was similarly inconsistent. No epidemiologic studies specifically evaluated animal-based diets and UV-induced erythema, although experimental studies suggest long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may attenuate UV-mediated inflammation and increase erythema thresholds.⁵ Fish, retinol, vitamin D, niacin, and monounsaturated fats demonstrated protective associations in several studies, whereas high-fat dairy products, vitamin D supplementation, processed meats, and canned tuna, were associated with increased skin cancer risk in others.

Overall, current evidence indicates that both plant- and animal-based diets contain nutrients capable of modifying cutaneous photobiology through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory pathways. However, substantial heterogeneity among studies, reliance on self-reported dietary assessments, and confounding by UV exposure and supplement use preclude definitive dietary recommendations for skin cancer prevention. Future prospective studies evaluating whole dietary patterns and mechanistic nutrient-UV interactions are needed to determine whether dietary modification can serve as an effective adjunct strategy for reducing photosensitivity and photocarcinogenesis.

Supplemental Material

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-3-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-4-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-5-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

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Supplemental material, sj-docx-6-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

Supplemental Material

sj-docx-7-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 – Supplemental material for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review

Supplemental material, sj-docx-7-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

Supplemental Material

sj-docx-8-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 – Supplemental material for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review

Supplemental material, sj-docx-8-cms-10.1177_12034754261467037 for Dietary Patterns and Their Association With Photosensitivity and Cutaneous Malignancies: A Scoping Review by Kim H. Tran, Eunice Y. Chow and Mariusz Sapijaszko in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

Footnotes

ORCID iDs

Kim H. Tran

Eunice Y. Chow

Mariusz Sapijaszko

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Supplemental Material

Supplemental material for this article is available online.

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Supplementary Material

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