Young People and Skin Cancer

How common is skin cancer in young people?

• Like all forms of cancer, skin cancer becomes more common with increasing age.
• Certain types of skin cancer do affect younger people.
• Malignant melanoma - the most serious form of skin cancer - is the third most common cancer in people aged 15-24 years.
• Of the five most common cancers in young people, melanoma is unusual in being almost entirely preventable, through sun protection, avoiding burning, staying in the shade between 10 – 3, covering up with a sun hat, UPF rated sun protection clothing and sunglasses, and using minimum SPF 15+ sunscreen.

Why is it important to protect young skin?

• UV damage to young skin increases the risk of developing skin cancer in later life.
• The skin of infants (babies from birth to 12months) is thinner and produces less melanin (Melanin is the primary determinant of human skin color.) than at any other time in life.
• The majority of our lifetime sun exposure happens by the age of 18 so it is critical to use sun protection to protect skin during these early years.

Knowledge, attitudes and behavior of 16-24 year olds to sun protection:

• Young people are at greatest risk of being burnt when traveling abroad for the first time without their parents.
• More than half of young people feel that a suntan makes them look healthier and more attractive.
• Although 50% of young people use sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun, only a quarter choose a sun hat, sun protective clothing, or sunscreen with a high protection factor (UPF 50 +/SPF15+).
• While 45% of young men, and 48% of young women, are aware that staying in the shade can help prevent skin cancer, only 7% of men and 20% of women report wearing a hat, sun protective clothing, or sun protection to do so.

Kayaking Badwater Lake - Death Valley, YES, Death Valley, CA

Definitely the right place and time for sun hats and sun protection clothing!

Rain-fall profit, Spring 2005.

Sun, Glorious Sun........

2004-1500 1500-AD-4.5 billion BC

1990s

A clear link emerges between sunshine and skin cancer.

1980s

Concern over skin cancer grows, as does popularity of sunbeds. People of all ages begin to take seriously the need for hats, sun hats, and sun protection clothing for the greatest care of their health and their continued enjoyment of the outdoors.

1979

An American government report concludes that sunscreens help prevent skin cancer

1960s and 1970s

Cheap package holidays introduce sunburn to a mass audience

1950s

The first self-tanning product comes onto the market

1940s

Swimwear, once designed to cover skin, now exposed it

1920s

Suntans are popularised by Coco Channel and Josephine Baker

1880

The first photocells are invented - converting sunlight directly into electrical energy

1849

The French physicist, Armand Fizeau, establishes the speed of light at approximately 186,300 miles (300,000km) per second

1801

The German physicist, Johann Wilhelm Ritter, discovers light contains ultraviolet radiation

1800

Astronomer William Herschel discovers infrared radiation

1666

Sir Isaac Newton performs his famous prism experiment. He concludes that sunlight is white light that contains all the colours of the spectrum

1629-1695

Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, develops a theory that light consists of waves, not particles

1512

Nicolaus Copernicus correctly places the Sun at the centre of the Solar System

1300s

Anasazi natives in North America live in south-facing cliff dwellings that capture the winter sun

500 BC

Pythagoras, Greek philosopher and mathematician, puts forward the 'particle' theory of light - every visible object emits a stream of particles, that bombard the eye

1500 BC

The sundial is thought to have been invented

2000-1500 BC

Stonehenge is built. The stones are thought to track the Sun - possibly showing the solstices, seasons or eclipses

2300 BC

Egyptians worship the Sun god, Ra, as the highest of the gods

2 Billion BC

As primitive organisms develop, one manages to convert the energy of sunlight into food. This method, later used by all plants, is called 'photosynthesis'

3 Billion BC

With the aid of sunlight, early life forms on Earth

4.5 Billion BC

The Sun is born. Scientists calculate that it will burn for another 10-30 billion years

Do I need to be concerned about sun protection during the winter months?

The answer is a definitive YES!

Experts warn that harmful rays can penetrate clouds. In a recent survey around half of those asked were unaware that precautions against burning are still vital in winter weather conditions – including cloudy days. Often, people who would never dream of baking themselves on a sun-drenched beach will disregard their summer caution with little regard for the hazards of the strength of the winter sun.

Since over-exposure to the sun is considered the chief cause of skin cancer, some assume cloud-shrouded locations are immune. Yet Washington state, an area typically associated with winter cloudy skies has a melanoma rate slightly higher than the national rate — at 32.5 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 24.9 cases nationally, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Following the basic tenets of summer sun protection during the wintry weather months will allow you to continue to enjoy the outdoors throughout the year. Hats, sun hats, and sun protection clothing can be your best choice summer, or winter!