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The Facts on Melanoma and Teens

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Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., afflicting more than 1 million people annually. Melanoma is the deadliest form and is most often caused by intense exposures to the UV radiation from the sun or artificial light sources, like tanning beds.  Of the estimated 105,750 new  patients this year, only a fraction will be teenagers.  But the cancer has been linked to excessive sun exposure in the first 10-18 years of life.

"How teens behave today sows the seeds of skin cancer that will develop years later," says Dr. Clay Cockerell of the American Academy of Dermatology.  "In children, melanoma may be due to an inherited susceptibility," says Dr. John DiGiovanna of the National Cancer Institute.  "But the message is the same: Avoid blistering burns, wear sunscreen with SPF15 or higher, plus long sleeves and a wide brimmed hat."

A melanoma can develop from or near a mole.  The "ABCD" signs of melanoma are: 

•  Asymmetry: the halves don't match

• Border irregularity: edges are ragged

• Color irregularity: pigment is not uniform

• Diameter: larger than a pencil eraser

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