We are all pretty much aware of protecting our skin during the summer season, but the Centers for Disease Control wants us to know that preventing Melanoma is a year-round job.

The Centers for Disease Control recently published a report, “Melanoma Surveillance in the United States,” online at http://www.eblue.org/webfiles/images/journals/ymjd/MelanomaSupplementProof.pdf  [PDF – 15.63MB] and appears in the November 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The supplement was developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology, the largest dermatology group in the United States.

“Melanoma is a devastating disease that takes an economic toll on individuals, their families, and society in terms of premature death and lost productivity,” said Marcus Plescia, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.

“New policies and prevention strategies are needed to address the leading preventable causes of melanoma, enabling people to be healthier, live longer, and continue to be productive.”

Significant findings from articles included in CDC published report:

• A study led by Xiao-Cheng Wu, M. D., M. P. H., New Orleans School of Public Health, examined racial and ethnic variations in melanoma incidence and survival and found that melanoma rates were higher among white females aged 50 and younger, Hispanic females aged 50 and younger, and Asian Pacific Islander females aged 40 and younger, compared to their male counterparts. This study also found that Hispanics, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Asians were diagnosed with melanoma at younger ages than whites and blacks.
• Hannah Weir, Ph. D., CDC, examined melanoma in adolescents and young adults, and found incidence was higher among females compared to males, increased with age, and was higher in non-Hispanic whites compared to Hispanic whites, blacks, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, and Asian and Pacific Islanders.
• In 2005, 34 percent of adults had been sunburned in the past year, and in 2004, 69 percent of adolescents experienced sunburn the previous summer according to a study led by David Buller, Ph.D., Klein Buendel, Inc., which examined the prevalence of sunburn, sun protection, and indoor tanning behaviors.
• A study led by Todd Cartee, M.D., Emory University, surveyed a small group of dermatologists and found that many were not aware of reporting requirements, although physicians are required by law to report melanomas to central cancer registries.

The CDC recommends that people take steps to protect themselves from Melanoma by:

• Seeking shade, especially during midday hours.
• Wearing clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wearing a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wearing sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100 percent of both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible.
• Using sunscreen with sun protective factor 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Avoiding indoor tanning.

For information about CDC’s efforts in skin cancer prevention, visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/. For more information from the American Academy of Dermatology on skin cancer, visit http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/skin-cancer. Podcasts about the supplement can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/podcasts.

Days are getting longer, which means more time out in the sun. Time to think kid-friendly sunscreens.

Things to look for that would indicate that you are buying the ‘best sunscreens,’ include that it:

• Provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
• Has an SPF of at least 15 to 30.
• Is water-resistant. Even if you aren’t going swimming, if your child is outside, he will likely be sweating, so a water resistant might provide better protection than a regular sunscreen.
• Is hypoallergenic and fragrance free, especially if your child has sensitive skin.
• Is in a form that is easy to use on your child, whether that means it is a stick, gel, lotion, spray, or continuous spray, etc.

Kid-Friendly Sunscreens that you would look for to protect your kids from the sun include:

• Aveeno Baby Sunblock lotion, SPF 55
• Badger SPF 30 For Face & Body
• Badger SPF 30 Unscented Natural Sunscreen
• Banana Boat Baby Tear-Free Continous Spray Sunblock, SPF 50
• Banana Boat Baby Tear-Free Sunblock Lotion, SPF 50
• Banana Boat Baby Faces Sunblock Stick, SPF 50
• Banana Boat Kids Dri-Blok Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30
• Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Sunblock, SPF 50
• Banana Boat UltraMist Kids Spray, SPF 50
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, SPF 30
• Bull Frog Kids FastBlast Sunblock Spray, SPF 36
• California Baby Water Resistant, Hypo-Allergenic Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
• Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 50
• Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 70+
• Coppertone WaterBabies Quick Cover Lotion Spray, SPF 50
• Coppertone WaterBabies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
• Coppertone WaterBabies Sunscreen Lotion Spray, SPF 50
• Hawaiian Tropic Baby Faces & Tender Places Sunblock Spray, SPF 50+
• Neutrogena Kids Spray Waterguard Sunblock Mist, SPF 70+
• Neutrogena Waterguard Kids Sunblock Lotion, SPF 70+
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Lotion, SPF 60+
• NO-AD Sunblock Lotion, SPF 45
• Up & Up Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30(Target)
• Walgreens Sport Continuous Spray SPF 50

Parents should a avoid low SPF sunscreen or suntan lotion, which don’t provide enough sun protection for kids.

Other Sunscreens

In addition to traditional sunscreen creams, lotions, and sprays, you can also get extra sun protection with:

• Lip balms with sunscreen
• Sun protection clothing, made with fabric that provides a Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 15 to 50+

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 _{About.com Pediatrics}

The Environmental Work Group, a nonprofit organization that uses the power of public information to protect public health and the environment wants to know, “Does your sunscreen actually protect your family?”

In a recent post I received, the EWG reported that only a quarter of the more than 800 beach and sports sunscreens analyzed by them for their 2012 Sunscreen Guide meet EWG standards for effectiveness and safety. They view this as progress though as it is an improvement over previous years.

A quarter of this year’s sunscreen products still contain vitamin A ingredients that accelerate the growth of skin tumors and lesions on sun-exposed skin, according to recent government studies. Also, 56 of the products EWG reviewed had no active ingredients that protect against the sun’s damaging UVA rays.

The industry continues to load store shelves with sunscreens that claim misleading, sky-high SPF ratings that may protect against sunburn-causing UVB rays but leave skin vulnerable to UVA.

Be sure, be careful, be ready for fun in the sun by clicking here for EWG’s 2012 Sunscreen Guide, http://tinyurl.com/btw5quh.