Fewer Teens Using Sunscreen
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Teens are failing to get the message that too much sun can put them at higher risk of developing melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer, according to a new report.
Corey Basch at the William Patterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, says that in a study he conducted from 2001 to 2011, sunscreen use by adolescents dropped from about 68 percent to 56 percent.
Basch didn’t delve into reasons why this occurred, though the researcher also discovered that despite warnings about the dangers of exposure to tanning devices, use among white girls only fell from 37 percent in 2009 to 29 percent in 2011.
To lower the risk of skin cancer, Basch says teens need to be reminded again and again and again about the importance of sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, while raising awareness about the risks of tanning beds.
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