Australian Study Predicts Decrease in Skin Cancer Rates Among Children

SadaNews - A long-term study conducted by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, published in early March in the British Journal of Dermatology, reveals scientists' predictions for a significant reduction in the risk of skin cancer in the future. This follows a notable decline in the number of moles that children today develop compared to those 25 years ago.

It is known that moles on the skin's surface are benign tumors that do not cause any symptoms or medical problems and are usually aesthetically acceptable (except for those that are large or on the face). However, the danger of having moles on the skin lies in the fact that the average number is one of the most significant risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing skin cancer. The greater the number of moles, the higher the chances of developing the condition, especially in individuals with fair skin exposed to high levels of ultraviolet sunlight.

Most Australian children develop moles, with an average of about 50 moles by the age of 15 among teenagers. These moles are particularly prevalent among white populations exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation, and those with more than 100 moles have a sevenfold increased risk of developing melanoma over their lifetime compared to those with fewer than 15 moles.

The researchers tracked the development of moles in twins and their siblings (due to the importance of genetic factors) aged 12 annually from 1992 to 2016. The study included 3,957 children living in Southeast Queensland, Australia, and the researchers found that the average number of moles on these children's bodies decreased by 47 percent during the study period.

The results of the study provide significant hope for reducing skin cancer cases in Australia, which records the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, leading to approximately 1,300 deaths annually. Researchers believe that the most likely reason for this decline is reduced exposure to sunlight before the age of twelve, a critical period for mole development.

Scientists attribute this behavioral shift to increased health awareness among citizens, following decades of education on the importance of protection from direct sunlight, especially during peak hours, and the necessity of using creams that block ultraviolet rays when going out during the day.

The study indicates that a decrease in the average annual dose of ultraviolet radiation, by 11.7 percent over the study period, may explain the decline in the number of moles. Researchers stated that this leads to a fourfold decrease in the lifetime risk of developing skin cancer for children born after 2000 compared to those born in the 1980s.

Researchers also noted that young children have significantly greater opportunities to protect their skin than teenagers and adults, as teenagers often tend to disregard medical advice regarding skin protection.

The study emphasized that communities where children are constantly exposed to sunlight, such as tropical countries and Australia, must take measures beyond merely using sunscreen. This includes the necessity of wearing hats and covering as much of their bodies as possible with clothing, along with using sunscreen to protect areas that cannot be covered.