Researchers say eating a low-fat diet diet can help people who have had skin cancer avoid getting the disease again.

According to Reuters, an International Journal of Cancer study has linked a diet high in saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma.

Researchers followed 457 men and 600 women for 11 years in a sub-tropical area of Australia with high exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. They found that in the subjects with a prior history of skin cancer, higher total fat intake was associated with about a twofold increased risk of squamous cell cancer of the skin.

Participants who did not have a previous history of skin cancer did not have an increased risk of the disease based on their diets, however.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends avoiding direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily use of a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and wearing sun-protective clothing including wide-brimmed hats and UV-protective sunglasses to reduce the risk of sun damage.

containing vitamins C and E as well as selenium are also believed to help the skin fight cancer.