Why sun protection is no longer child’s play By HPN Staff Sunburn, at any point in life, increases the risk of skin cancer. While there’s a common belief that childhood sunburns cause the most risk, repeated studies have shown the risks increase as sunburns mount up over a lifetime, not just during childhood. “Prevention efforts should focus on reducing sunburns during all life-periods,” researchers concluded in a 2008 review that summarized dozens of studies. “Childhood sunburn doesn’t increase basal cell carcinoma risk more than adult sunburn,” a similar 2023 meta-analysis found. Why it matters Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and some 6.1 million people a year are treated for various types at a cost of nearly $9 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also one of the most preventable cancers. Studies linking sunburn to cancer risk tend to break things down by five sunburn sets, and the 2023 meta-analysis found that: Every five sunburns per decade in childhood increased Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) risk 1.86 times Every five sunburns per decade in adulthood increased BCC risk 2.12 times. Every five sunburns per decade of life increased BCC risk 1.91 times. “The data on sunburn exposure and BCC show that an increase in the number of sunburns at any age increased the risk of BCC,” the researchers concluded. The bigger picture While doctors say a little sun can be healthy, they recommend reducing sun exposure, particularly for people with lighter skin tones. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can damage the DNA in skin cells, causing the mutations that lead to cancer. Peeling skin is how your body removes potentially damaged cells. Some prevention recommendations from The Skin Cancer Foundation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a Stanford dermatology professor: Never use UV tanning booths Wear UV protective clothing, including long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats. Try loose-fitting clothing to stay cool. Find sunscreen you like and use it. Remember: The thickness at which you spread the sunscreen matters, so consider two applications a couple of minutes apart. Avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest. Be mindful of the sun shining on one part of your body during long car trips. Additional details SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it varies significantly in clothing and in sunscreen. Check the label, but generally, clothing with a tighter weave has a higher SPF or UPF, which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. For sunscreen, dermatologists typically suggest an SPF of 30 or higher, and they suggest daily use when you’re outside on skin not covered by clothing, even on cloudy days. “The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round," the American Academy of Dermatology says. "Even on cloudy days, up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate the clouds."
