Skin cancer: Children beware

2004-11-30 11:10

Sydney - Australian children as young as three have been found to suffer potentially cancer-causing changes to their skin due to sunlight, according to a new study issued Tuesday.

The study by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research showed a strong link between exposure to sunlight and development of potentially cancerous moles in young children.

Children exposed to the sun had developed at least 10 moles by the time they reached the age of three, the study found.

"These are very high rates of moles and moles are the biggest risk factor for developing melanoma," said researcher David Whiteman, referring to the deadliest form of skin cancer.

"This is the first evidence we have seen in very young children that protective measures actually do work to stop the early changes of skin cancer.

"It's not proven yet but it does seem that sun exposure received during childhood is more dangerous than sun exposure received during adulthood."

The results are to be published in January in the journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

- SAPA