Sunburn in Childhood and Malignant Melanoma

The risks of melanoma are greatly increased by having a sunburn when young.

Malignant melanoma is a very unusual and deadly form of skin cancer. It is one of the few cancers to have regular cases seen that spontaneously are cured without treatment. There has even been one reported case with widespread malignant melanomas on one side of the body with none at all on the other side.

That being said, melanoma remains the worst form of skin cancer. The bad knews is that it is increasing in frequency. Fears of changes in the atomosphere with global warming make the prospects for a change in that trend gloomy.

There is a definite increase in the amount of melanoma in people who have been sunburned as children. However this relationship is a bit shakey.

There is also increased melanoma among those with skin types easily burned. People with light skin and fair hair have increased numbers of malignant melanoma whether they have had sunburns or not.

However, most studies conclude that even among those people, there is an increase in the amount of melanoma if you have had sunburn as a child compared to those with the same skin type who have not.

The question is then what to do with this information.

First, guard your children agains too much sun exposure. This is especially important for those that are light skinned and fair haired, but it does apply to all.

There are several ways to do this. Obviously decreasing the amount of time in the sun will help. Besides that, it will help to keep increased amounts of clothing on.

This is even important in the rain. My wife and I were swimming once in Xal-Ha in Mexico in the rain. I had learned that I burn easily and actually was wearing a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt to swim and snorkel in.

My wife was laughing at me as she enjoyed the refreshing rain in her swim suit. But, the next day, she was miserable with a fairly severe sunburn.

The next thing to keep at hand is a good sunscreen. However, keep in mind that suncreen should not give you permission to spend extra time in the sun. The risk of melanoma will be increased with extra time in the sun despite the use of sunscreen. It should then be used as an extra safeguard against the sun.

Finally, it is important to become familiar with the way that melanoma looks. I will cover that information in future articles.

melanoma sunburn - Google News
Google News

Lots of Fun in the Sun, but Little Use of Sunscreen by Kids - ABC News

ABC News
Lots of Fun in the Sun, but Little Use of Sunscreen by Kids
ABC News
The majority of pre-adolescents don't regularly use sunscreen, according to a new study, despite the fact that many of them suffered sunburns at some point during their childhood, which increases the risk of developing melanoma later in life.
Only 25% of children wear sunscreen regularlyCBS News
Kids aren't getting the sunscreen messageLos Angeles Times
Young people skimp on sunscreenWashington Post (blog)
ConsumerReports.org -Daily Mail -RedOrbit
all 141 news articles »
Pfenninger: A summary of malignant melanoma - Midland Daily News

Pfenninger: A summary of malignant melanoma
Midland Daily News
Risk factors: Personal history of melanoma; a family history of melanoma (mother, father, sister, brother, son or daughter); history of a blistering sunburn as a child; skin that usually burns but doesn't tan; more than 50 moles of any size; ...


Most students have been sunburned, survey shows - Boston Globe

Most students have been sunburned, survey shows
Boston Globe
By Chelsea Conaboy Previous studies have shown that children who have just one sunburn nearly double their risk of developing melanoma later in life. More than half of the 360 Massachusetts adolescents surveyed in a recent study reported having had a ...

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Sunscreen still 'applies' in winter months - HealthCanal.com

Sunscreen still 'applies' in winter months
HealthCanal.com
According to the American Cancer Society, snow, ice and water can all reflect the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn. Sunburn in turn increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Some experts say winter sports enthusiasts can face just as much ...

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Ski star urges winter sun smarts - North Shore News

Ski star urges winter sun smarts
North Shore News
A recent survey commissioned by the Melanoma Network of Canada suggests that women are three times more likely than men to protect their skin in the winter. According to the survey, only four per cent of men use sunscreen during the winter months.

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Kids seek tans, use less sunscreen as they age - msnbc.com

Daily Mail
Kids seek tans, use less sunscreen as they age
msnbc.com
This is a concern, Balk said, because of evidence that sun damage at a young age is tied to a higher risk later on of developing melanoma - the most deadly of the skin cancers. "Kids think looking tan is consistent with looking healthy, ...
Proposed legislation would outlaw tanning bed use for minors in IllinoisMedill Reports: Chicago
More kids seek tans as they age, may raise skin cancer riskMontreal Gazette

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Kids, Teens Ignore Sun Risks - MedPage Today

MedPage Today
Kids, Teens Ignore Sun Risks
MedPage Today
"Because periadolescence is a time of volatility with regard to sun behaviors, learning more about children who receive sunburns versus those who avoid them is a critical research task." A growing incidence of melanoma increasingly has focused ...


Cancer - Know Your Chances - AllAfrica.com

Cancer - Know Your Chances
AllAfrica.com
Basil Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) are the most common types of skin cancers, while melanoma is less common, but more dangerous. South Africa has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world after Australia, and is common in ...

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Half of children ditch the suncream between ages of 11 and 14 'because they ....

WRAL.com
Half of children ditch the suncream between ages of 11 and 14 'because they ...
Daily Mail
It is of particular concern as sun damage at a young age has been linked to a heightened risk of melanoma. The scientists said young teenagers faced a barrage of media images that equated a tan with looking healthy, even though it is an early warning ...
Study shows children getting too much sunWRAL.com

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Packaging may pump-up kids' sunscreen use - Reuters

Packaging may pump-up kids' sunscreen use
Reuters
Previous research has found that routine use of sunscreen cuts the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer (see Reuters Health report of December 6, 2010). "This shows how valuable sunscreen is," said Dr. Ron Moy, president of the American ...

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