Are Clothes Better than Sunscreen?
A study of over 1,800 children suggests that wearing clothes during outdoor activities may be more effective at preventing the development of moles (nevi) than using sunscreen, reports the American Journal of Epidemiology (2005;161:6207). Moles may be a precursor for melanoma, an often-fatal form of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US, and the prevalence is rapidly rising. Melanoma is not the most common form of skin cancer but it is by far the deadliest. The percentage of people diagnosed with melanoma has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is the leading cause of all skin cancers. People who are fair-skinned, have a history of severe sunburns (especially in childhood), have relatives with skin cancer, have a weakened immune system, or have been exposed to certain chemicals found in pesticides and wood preservatives are at greater risk of developing melanoma. The greatest risk factor, however, is having mole
