Childhood sunburn — adult skin cancer

Childhood sunburn — adult skin cancer

By: Trish Sheehan
University of Minnesota Extension

Early protection from the sun and consistency is key to healthy skin. Despite the fact that sun tanning and burning increases skin cancer risks, most Americans do not protect themselves from the sun’s damaging rays.

Children are most at risk for overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. With one in five Americans developing skin cancer, childhood education about sun protection is a vital step toward reducing risk and improving public health.

Many studies have concluded that sun exposure, especially sunburn, during childhood appears to increase the risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Just one or two blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s risk of developing melanoma later in life. Children are of particular concern because they spend a lot of time outdoors and get an average of three times more sun exposure than adults.

Research suggests sunscreen alone isn’t protection enough from the sun’s rays. Hats, along with sunscreen, may be the best defense against skin cancer. For instance, one with an extended bill and a back flap to cover the ears and neck is particularly effective. Following are additional suggestions for sun safety from the National Safety Council and the University of Minnesota Extension.

•If you must be out in the sun, cover up with a wide-brimmed hat, preferably made with tightly woven fabric. Also, wear long sleeves and light colored pants.

•Use sunscreen products. Sunscreens are rated with numbers called sun protection factor (SPF). The higher the number, the greater the protection. Use SPF 15 or greater. SPF 30 sunscreens are only about 3 or 4 percent more effective.

•Apply sunscreen properly. Some sunscreens need time to bind with the skin oils and should be applied 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. Cover all exposed areas, including palms, ears, and noses. Reapply to the body and face about every three hours, and reapply after swimming. Don’t forget to use it in the shade and on cloudy days. Some UV rays still get through.

•Use lip balm that contains sunscreen. The lower lip is one of the most common sites for skin cancer.

•Be alert to reflected UV light from sand, water, cement, or snow.

•Wear sunglasses that filter out ultraviolet radiation. Those labeled to block out over 70 percent of UVB rays are good choices.

•When traveling, remember that radiation increases at higher altitudes. Radiation also increases the closer you get to the equator.

•Stay out of the sun when taking certain medications, such as antibiotics and diuretics, that make the skin more light sensitive. Check with your doctor.

Finally, try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Keep infants and young children out of the sun as much as possible. Eighty percent of the sun’s damage occurs within the first eighteen years of life. For more information, contact your health care provider.

(Trish Sheehan is a regional extension educator — 4-H youth development at the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Center in Hutchinson.)