A new scientific study has confirmed that repeated sunburns during childhood are not merely a temporary source of pain, but may cause lasting damage that significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
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The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, analyzed 17 previous studies involving more than 321,000 people.
It found that individuals who had experienced painful or blistering sunburns were more likely to develop cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer.
The findings showed that people who experienced moderately severe sunburns throughout their lives had a 51% higher risk of developing this type of cancer compared with those who had not experienced similar burns. Among those who suffered severe and repeated sunburns, the risk increased to 69%.
Experts at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York describe these episodes as “life-changing sunburns,” because ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, and this damage does not disappear once the pain of the burn subsides.
Adrian Victor, an oncologist at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the study, explains how sunburn damage can eventually lead to cancer: “When the body repairs damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, mistakes can sometimes occur. Over time, these errors, or mutations, accumulate and can lead to the development of skin cancer.”
The most concerning finding was that severe and repeated sunburns during childhood were associated with an up to threefold increase in the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Even just a few severe sunburns appeared to be enough to increase the risk.
Although the researchers acknowledged that the evidence is not entirely conclusive because the study relied on participants’ recollections of their previous sunburns, which may not always be accurate, they emphasized that the findings reinforce the importance of preventing sunburn, particularly among children and adolescents.
Dermatologist Jania Al-Faghali explains that children are more vulnerable due to several factors, including the biology of pigment-producing skin cells, their greater likelihood of spending time in the sun, and inconsistent use of sunscreen.
Previous studies have reached similar conclusions, finding that the greater the severity and frequency of sunburns during childhood, each decade of life, or over a person’s lifetime, the greater the risk of developing melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Simply put, the damage accumulates with every sunburn.
Although ultraviolet radiation is the primary cause of most skin cancers, other factors also play a role, including genetics, smoking, and the use of tanning beds, which increase the risk of melanoma.
Short periods of sun exposure may help the body produce vitamin D, but experts recommend avoiding sunburns that cause visible damage to the skin.
While we cannot erase our history of past sunburns, we can avoid adding new ones by wearing clothing that covers the skin, applying sunscreen, and wearing a hat. Avoiding the midday sun and seeking shade under a tree or umbrella are also smart ways to reduce exposure.
