What do systematic reviews say?

Sunscreen vs placebo

Sunscreen showed no clear difference in incidence of herpes labialis during use of the preventative… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.12 [0.25, 5.06]
  1 study · 51 participants
  Low

Sunscreen vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether sunscreen changes incidence of herpes labialis during use of the preventative… compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.07 [0.01, 0.33]
  2 studies · 111 participants
  Very low
• Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Very low

Daily application of sunscreen vs discretionary use

Daily application of sunscreen showed no clear difference in basal cell carcinoma Confirmed clinically or by histopathology compared with discretionary use (low certainty).

• Sun protection for preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.74, 1.43]
  1 study · 1621 participants
  Low

Daily application of sunscreen vs discretionary use

Daily application of sunscreen showed no clear difference in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma Confirmed clinically or by… compared with discretionary use (low certainty).

• Sun protection for preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.88 [0.5, 1.54]
  1 study · 1621 participants
  Low

Daily application of sunscreen vs discretionary use

• Sun protection for preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 1621 participants
  Low