Melanoma on Rise among US Children: Study

The most fatal form of skin cancer and a rare condition in children, melanoma, has increased by 2 percent every year from 1973 to 2009 in the U.S. kids, reveals a latest research.

Cases of melanoma are considered to be extremely rare among children, but more incidence of skin cancer is being reported among kids in the U.S. right from birth. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the skin disease constitutes around 3 percent of pediatric cancers.

For the study, around 1,317 children were examined with melanoma and out of them 1,230 were whites, at the time of study. The researchers concentrated on the whites as cases of the skin cancer among other ethnic and racial communities is less. The researchers witnessed a rise of melanoma cases among 15 and 19-year-olds. They also found that this condition was higher among girls than boys.

Fair skin, light hair and color of eyes, moles and family history of melanoma and sunburns are risks of this kind of cancer among children and adults.

The reasons for sudden increase of melanoma in children and adults can be rising ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure and tanning booths, stated the lead study author Jeannette Wong of the US National Cancer Institute.

"Although the exact reasons for this trend is unclear, parents should be vigilant about helping children and adolescents reduce their chance of developing melanoma by practicing sun-protective behaviors and avoiding tanning beds," advised Kimberly Johnson, co-author of the study.

According to Illinois-based dermatologist Amy Forman Taub, childhood melanoma is similar to that in grownups.  "Parents should be aware of any new or changing moles in their children," she told HealthDayNews.

Dr Taub advised that applying sunscreen is important. She said that both children and adults should use a sunscreen that prevents the skin from both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. Also, wear sun-smart-clothing.