Sólarlandaferðir í æsku auka líkurnar á sortuæxlum síðar á ævinni

Study indicates childhood vacations at the shore may increase melanoma risk later in life.

AFP

(2/4) reports, "Spending vacations at the beach during childhood may increase the risk of the deadly skin cancer melanoma later in life," according to a study published in the Feb. issue of the journal

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

.
        For the study, researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health "evaluated 681 children born in 1998 in Colorado, asking their parents about childhood vacation destinations and then conducting skin exams when the children were age seven to look for nevi" that "are a risk factor for developing malignant melanoma,"

HealthDay

(2/3, Doheny) explained. The investigators discovered that the number of "moles went up five percent for every vacation" the children "took [beginning at age one year]." Notably, the authors also found that "the moles seemed to increase despite sunscreen use," and suggested that "parents...skip or curtail waterside vacations when their children are young."
        "Though the study focused on children in Colorado," the authors say "that its results apply to white children in regions with low to moderate sun exposure around the world," Canada's

Toronto Star

(2/3, Gordon) reported. The authors also pointed out that "black children have only one-twentieth the risk of melanoma that white children have," and "little is known about the impact of sun exposure on skin cancer rates in Asian populations." In addition, the study "revealed a 19 percent higher risk for boys than girls, presumably because they're more likely to stay outdoors longer, and a greater risk for kids from families with high incomes, since they were more likely to go on beach vacations."
        In its Health Beat segment,

WLS-TV

Chicago (2/3), an ABC affiliate, noted that "experts recommend children be covered with a high SPF sunblock." In addition, youngsters should "stay out of the sun between 10" a.m. and two p.m. "during the day."
       

KOLO-TV

Nevada (2/3, 12:07 p.m. MT, Johnson), an ABC affiliate, explained in a HealthBytes segment, "Melanoma rates are on the rise in the United States - more than 62,000 Americans are now diagnosed each year."

Sólargeislarnir eru sterkir í skíðabrekkunum

UV rays said to be more damaging on ski slopes than at the beach.

KMGH-TV

Denver (12/16), an ABC affiliate, reported that "the combination of higher altitude and ultraviolet (UV) rays reflected by the snow puts skiers and snowboarders at an increased risk of sun damage and ultimately, skin cancer." While it "is easy to associate winter with frostbite and windburn... most people are unaware that UV rays can be even more damaging on the slopes than on the beach." That's because "UV exposure increases eight to10 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level." In addition, "snow reflects about 80 percent of the UV light from the sun, meaning that you are often hit by the same rays twice." Winter sports enthusiasts should "use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher," and "apply [it] 30 minutes before hitting the slopes," even on cloudy days, and wear a "lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher."