A new scientific study has confirmed that repeated exposure to sunburn during childhood is not just temporary pain, but may leave permanent damage that greatly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, after a comprehensive analysis of 17 previous studies involving more than 321,000 people, found that those who had experienced painful or blistering sunburn were more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, one of the most common types of skin cancer.
The results showed that people who had experienced moderate sunburns throughout their lives were 51% more likely to develop this type of cancer compared to those who had not experienced similar burns. For those who had suffered severe and repeated burns, the risk increased to 69%.
Experts at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York describe these burns as "life-changing sunburns" because ultraviolet rays damage the DNA in skin cells, and this damage does not disappear when the pain of the burn subsides.
Oncologist Adrianne Victor of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester, who was not involved in the study, explains the mechanism by which a burn turns into cancer: “When the body repairs the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, mistakes can sometimes occur. Over time, these mistakes (mutations) accumulate and lead to the development of skin cancer.”
The most alarming finding was that repeated severe sunburns in childhood were associated with a risk of up to three times higher than normal for squamous cell carcinoma. Even a few severe burns appeared to be enough to increase the risk.
Although the researchers acknowledged that the evidence was not entirely conclusive, as it relied on people remembering their history of previous burns (which may not be accurate), they stressed that the findings reinforce the importance of sunburn prevention, especially for children and adolescents.
Dermatologist Giniya Al-Faghali confirms that "children are more at risk due to multiple factors, including the biology of pigment-producing skin cells, their high likelihood of sun exposure, and the lack of regular use of sunscreens."
Previous studies have reached similar conclusions, indicating that the more severe and frequent sunburns one experiences in childhood, each decade of life, or throughout life, the greater the risk of developing melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Simply put, the damage accumulates with each burn.
Although ultraviolet radiation is the primary cause of most skin cancers, other factors play a role, such as genetics, smoking, and the use of tanning beds, which increase the risk of melanoma.
Short-term sun exposure can help boost vitamin D levels, but experts advise avoiding sunburn, which causes visible skin damage. While we can't erase our past sunburns, we can prevent new ones by wearing clothing that covers the skin, using sunscreen, and wearing a hat. Avoiding the midday sun and seeking shade under a tree or umbrella are also smart ways to protect yourself.
