Digital monitoring of ultraviolet exposure as part of skin cancer prevention

OBJECTIVE. To conduct a comparative analysis of contemporary digital and traditional approaches to monitoring ultraviolet (UV) exposure and assessing the risk of malignant skin neoplasms, and to identify their advantages, limitations, and prospects for application. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A narrative review of publications from 2020 to 2026 indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted. Official materials from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) were also analyzed. The findings were summarized using a qualitative comparative synthesis. RESULTS. Traditional and digital approaches were found to have complementary roles. The UV Index and environmental UV monitoring characterize potential UV hazards at the population level, whereas personal UV sensors enable the assessment of individual UV exposure. mHealth technologies facilitate personalized prevention and improvements in sun-protective behavior, while artificial intelligence and teledermatology expand opportunities for risk stratification, diagnostic decision support, and patient triage. CONCLUSIONS. Digital technologies should be considered complementary to traditional UV monitoring and dermatological surveillance rather than as replacements for these approaches. Their further implementation requires standardization, clinical validation, protection of personal data, and evaluation of their effectiveness in real-world settings.