Using sunscreen as a child reduces the risk of melanoma years later by 40 percent

Apply sunscreen to your children and do not hold back. It could help save their lives.

A study conducted in Australia found that the use of sunscreen during childhood can reduce the risk of developing melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, 40% among young adults.

As with most cancers, the risk of melanoma increases with age. But according to the American Cancer Society, melanoma is one of the most common cancers among young adults (especially young women).

Researchers at the University of Sydney badyzed data collected from nearly 1700 Australians aged 18 to 40 years. They looked at those who regularly used sunscreen as a child and compared those who rarely used these products. The results were published last week in JAMA Dermatology.

"The badociation of sun exposure and the risk of melanoma, especially in children, is well established and this study has shown that regular use of the sun is very important. sunscreen protected against the harmful effects of sun exposure, "says Anne Cust. The Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention Research Group of the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney.

About two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some type of skin cancer by the time they are 70, according to the study.

It is estimated that by 2018, more than 91,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with melanoma. Over the past decade, rates of new cases of melanoma have increased on average by 1.5% each year, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Australian study was funded by the National Council of Health and Medical Research, the NSW Cancer Council, the Victoria Cancer Council, the Queensland Cancer Council and the US National Institutes of Health.

The CDC recommends these measures to prevent UV radiation:

• Stay in the shade, especially at noon hour
• Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs
• Wear a wide hat to protect your face
• Wearing sunglbades that envelop and block UVA and UVB rays
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and UVA and UVB protection (broad spectrum)
• Avoid artificial tanning

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