Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Protecting Young Skin
In Partnership With
Michael Kasper, M.D., FACRO, board-certified radiation oncologist and director of radiation oncology at the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health, discusses the persistent challenges in prevention and early detection of skin cancer.
Limiting sun exposure, especially in the first 2 decades of life, is crucial for preventing a significant portion of skin cancers. Young skin is more vulnerable to UV damage, which accumulates over time and can lead to skin cancer decades later. Severe sunburns in childhood are strongly linked to melanoma risk, and early sun exposure can increase mole development, another risk factor.
The 3 main types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma—are all associated with UV radiation. While cumulative exposure contributes to BCC and SCC, intense, intermittent exposure in youth is a major risk factor for melanoma.
Effective prevention requires public health campaigns, school-based programs, and a shift in societal norms that currently normalize tanning. Educating parents and targeting adolescents with tailored messages are vital. Key preventive measures include seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and hats, using sunglasses, and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen. Avoiding tanning beds is also essential.
By emphasizing sun protection from infancy and addressing societal attitudes towards tanning, we can significantly reduce the incidence of skin cancer, a disease often linked to early life sun exposure. This proactive approach, though seemingly simple, demands a collective effort in education and behavioral change.
