Key Summary
- Cambridge hospital warns of rising child skin cancer from sun exposure
- Sunscreen alone isn’t enough—protective clothing and shade are vital
- Early UV damage increases lifelong cancer risk
The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has warned about the rising risk of skin cancer in adulthood linked to prolonged sun exposure when they were children.
The Trust stressed that majority of the adult patients they treated stayed out in the sun for a long duration during their childhood.
Sun-related skin cancers are caused by the excessive UV radiation people receive from the sun which damages their DNA in skin cells, which could lead to cancer in the future.
Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Animesh Patel has advised parents to be vigilant about the skin health of their children, as he claims he has been coming across an increasing number of cancer cases.
He said the sensitive skin of children and infants are even more prone to get sun-related skin cancers via repeated exposure.
While fair-skinned people are at highest risk, people of other ethnicities are also vulnerable to skin cancers.
Dr Patel said he has been coming across people of all ages ranging from children to pensioners.
He said application of sun cream alone doesn't completely protect people from danger.
Appropriate dressing, wearing a sun hat with broad brim that covers the face and ears, resting often in the shade, especially during the mid-day, are some other necessary practices that will help lower the risk.
He observed that “getting a tan was not necessarily safe or healthy".
“While children and adults do need some exposure to sunlight, it was important for people to be vigilant,” reminded Dr Patel.
