Children are especially vulnerable to skin damage from the sun’s UV rays and can even get melanoma. Just one bad sunburn during childhood can almost double the risk of developing melanoma later in life.
Using sunscreen and taking other sun-protective measures can help protect children and adults too.
According to the American Association for Cancer Research, about 2% of cancers in children are melanomas.1 Most melanomas in young children (before puberty) are low grade (not aggressive) and rarely spread. However, some rare melanomas in young children can be very aggressive. Many melanomas in adolescents (postpubescent) are similar to those in adults in morphologic and molecular features.2 Melanoma can be diagnosed in People with Skin of Color too. Learn about MRA’s efforts in this video.
While the exact cause of melanoma in children is not fully known, sun damage plays a role. Other risk factors include a family history of melanoma, having many moles, having light-colored hair and/or skin, having xeroderma pigmentosum (a rare genetic disorder in which people are extremely sensitive to sun damage), and being immunosuppressed (for example, in children with an autoimmune disease, who have received an organ transplant, or who are receiving certain treatments for other cancers).2,3,4,5
There are many steps that parents can take to protect their children from the harmful effects of the sun.
Parents can avoid planning activities in the sun when the UV Index is the highest. The UV index predicts how strong the sun’s rays will be in a particular area. Checking the UV index can help when planning outdoor activities.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays, which can both cause cancer. Sunscreen should be water resistant even when planning activities out of the water because sunscreen can wear off when people sweat. Be sure to reapply as directed on the bottle. Ask a pediatrician about using sunscreen on babies.
UV protective clothing is specially designed and tested to block UV rays. It is often lightweight and cool, even when it is long sleeved. Hats, as well as sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays, protect areas like the eyes and scalp where sunscreen is not used. Umbrellas, stroller shades, and other sources of shade can also provide protection. During outdoor events, parents can set up canopies to provide shade.
Parents can protect children during car rides by installing removable mesh window shades over the windows to block UV rays from entering the car.
These steps help protect children when they are young and also help prevent melanoma that might develop years later in adulthood.
The ABCDEs of melanoma describe what to look out for in adults. Suspicious moles may be asymmetrical, have an irregular border, show changes in color, have a diameter larger than the eraser of a pencil, and be evolving (changing) in size or thickness.
In children, ABCD signs to watch out for are different and may include a mole that has an amelanotic appearance (a mole that is flesh colored, pink, or red), bleeds, is uniform in color, is de novo (a new mole), and has any diameter.6
Early Detection of melanoma, when it is highly curable, is important. Parents should check their child’s skin monthly and visit the pediatrician or a dermatologist with any concerns.
Most melanomas in young children tend to be not aggressive and rarely spread, although aggressive forms do exist. Many melanomas in teens are similar to those in adults.
Signs of melanoma to watch out for in adults can be different than in children. In adults, suspicious moles are those that are asymmetrical, have an irregular border, show changes in color, have a diameter larger than the eraser of a pencil, and are evolving (changing) in size or thickness. In children, suspicious moles are those that are amelanotic (a mole that is flesh colored, pink, or red), bleed, are uniform in color, are de novo (a new mole), and have any diameter.
Risk factors for melanoma in children include a history of sunburns, a family history of melanoma, having many moles, having light-colored hair and/or skin, and having certain medical conditions.
Parents can minimize their children’s exposure to the sun by applying and reapplying sunscreen, having their children wear hats, sunglasses, and UV-protective clothing, using mesh sunshades in the car, using canopies for outdoor events, and being aware of the UV index when planning outdoor activities.
By joining MRA’s RARE Registry, you'll be joining a supportive and growing community of patients, advocates, and loved ones who are committed to advancing research into rare melanoma subtypes.
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