Children Not Immune from Skin Cancer Risks
Tips for Playing it Safe in the Sun

The end of the school year marks the beginning of the summer season. And summer means children will spend more time outdoors and become more vulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays if they do not have the proper protection.

"It’s important for parents to understand that one blistering sunburn during childhood can increase a child’s chance of developing melanoma or some other type of skin cancer in the future," said Dr. Denise Metry, pediatric dermatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor of pediatrics and dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. "Developing good habits about sun exposure now will benefit children in the long run."

Melanoma is the most serious of three types of skin cancer because it begins on the skin and can be spread to other parts of the body. The other types are squamous-cell and basal-cell carcinomas – cancers that often occur on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to the sun, including the face, the back of the hands and the ears.

The dermatology clinic at Texas Children’s has seen an increase in recent years of children who are at risk for melanoma, either because of sun damage or family history.

"We see children in all age ranges," Dr. Metry said.

"Approximately one out of five children in the United States today will grow up to have some form of skin cancer," said Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer, director for Texas Children’s Cancer Center long-term survivor program and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "Skin cancer is one of only two forms of cancer whose incidence rates are increasing, rather than decreasing, among the general population in the United States."

To protect children from the sun’s harmful rays, Texas Children’s suggests these tips:

• Wear sunscreen year-round. When children are outside swimming or participating in sporting activities, reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Teach children to wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat or UV-protective sunglasses, and to head for the shade to prevent exposure.

Dr. Metry also recommends a head-to-toe skin examination be a routine part of health maintenance. During a monthly skin check, dermatologists will look for the following:

• Any change to a freckle, mole, blemish, birthmark or pigmented area.
• A new mole or freckle that appeared suddenly or is growing rapidly.
• A new freckle that is dark, dry, scaly or looks different from those surrounding it.
• A new spot that is black, even if it is very small.
• An unusual mole or pigmented area.
• Any mole larger than one-quarter of an inch.
• Any mole with two or more shades of color.

For more information on Texas Children’s dermatology department or Texas Children’s Cancer Center, visit http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org and click on "patient care centers."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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