Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. Preventing skin cancer begins with sun protection during childhood. Nonmelanoma skin cancers are most often caused by unprotected sun exposure in childhood and adolescence, and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, often occurs in people who have deep, intense sunburns, particularly in childhood and adolescence. Even 1 or 2 blistering sunburns during childhood and the teen years increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.

Rather than emphasizing screening exams for youths, health care providers focus on educating families so they can best protect their skin.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine counseling to inform parents about the need for sun protection during childhood and adolescence.

Links
For more information, visit the web site of the National Cancer Institute at http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov.

To learn about self-exams and protecting against skin cancer at all ages, visit the web site of The Skin Cancer Foundation at http://www.skincancer.org.

Sources
American Academy of Family Physicians. Cancer: early detection. Available on the Internet at http://www.familydoctor.org/x2383.xml. Accessed July 16, 2004.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Cancer screening guidelines. Amer Family Physician. 2001 Mar 15. Available on the Internet at http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010315/1101.html. Accessed July 16, 2004.

American Cancer Society. Skin cancer. 2002 Feb. Available on the Internet at http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PRO/SkinCancer.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2004.

National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Skin cancer (PDQ®): screening (health professional version). Available on the Internet at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/skin/HealthProfessional/page2. Accessed July 15, 2004.

National Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention. The radiating facts. Available on the Internet at http://www.sunsafety.org/radiate.htm. Accessed July 22, 2004.

Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin cancer: a concern for all ages. Available on the Internet at http://www.skincancer.org/older/index.php. Accessed July 15, 2004.

Texas Children’s Hospital. Overexposure to sun now can have harmful consequences. 2004 Jun 7. Available on the Internet at http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/allabout/newscenter/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=1304. Accessed August 10, 2004.