Fewer US Teens Wearing Sunscreen, While Skin Cancer Rates Continue to Rise

While many cancers are decreasing in the United States, skin cancer is actually on the rise. Despite being a generation that grew up with SPF-obsessed parents lathering them down every 60 minutes, new research published in the Preventing Chronic Disease journal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the percentage of young people who reported wearing sunscreen has declined from 67.7% in 2001 to 56.1% in 2011. Couple that statistic with the fact that nearly one out of every three young white women aged 16–25 engages in indoor tanning and it’s not surprising the U.S. Surgeon General, Boris D. Lushniak, recently issued a call to action to prevent skin cancer.

Research suggests that adolescents continue to put themselves at risk for skin cancer, regardless of the fact that it’s the most common type of cancer in the US. But this preventable cancer is not being prevented. Although the CDC and other skin cancer organizations, medical professionals and groups continuously advocate for the need to practice sun safety, we need to kick our efforts into high gear until we see a significant decrease in these shocking statistics. It’s troubling that the message isn’t resonating with teens, and that they aren’t understanding the long-term damage. We need to continue to focus our future prevention efforts at young people because they are still not taking preventative action to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer later in life, but are instead increasing their chances.

In full support of the Surgeon General’s skin cancer warning and call to action, I recognize that skin cancer and melanoma are major public health concerns that require immediate attention. With his leadership and support, now is the time to take a stand against skin cancer and reduce the rates of skin cancer-related deaths that have been on the rise for the past several decades. In addition to the need to apply sunscreen year-round, people need to wear sun protective clothing, minimize their sun exposure, limit their indoor tanning habits, and become familiar with the risk factors. I urge you to educate yourself and your children on the importance of skin care to prevent future damage, and enroll in an early detection surveillance program to monitor the moles and lesions on your skin for suspicious changes over time.

Richard C. Bezozo, M.D.

President, MoleSafe

www.MoleSafe.com

1-877-MOLESAFE