According to Australian researchers, the common painkiller Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is efficient in lowering the incidence of skin cancer. Still, people have to take at least two tablets weekly for at least five years before it has an effect.

"We found that people who regularly used Aspirin and other NSAIDS had significantly lower risks of developing skin cancer than people who did not use them," researcher David Whiteman said.

"Moreover, we found that among people who had never had skin cancer, those who regularly used Aspirin had significantly lower numbers of sunspots", he added.

According to ABC Online, each year almost 250,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer, this form being the most common in Australia.

Skin cancer is an increasingly common condition, in part attributed to increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation, against which no level of sun screens offer any decisive protection. The increased exposure is mainly due to the recent popularity of sun tanning, but in part also due to ozone depletion and the consequently increased levels of ultraviolet radiation.

The chance of getting skin cancer doubles every time a person gets a suntan or sunburn.