A single case of sunburn can "significantly" increase a child's risk of getting skin cancer later in life, the World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday, when it launched a global campaign to educate children about the dangers. "We know that a child's skin is more sensitive and even a short time in the sun can produce serious sunburn," WHO radiation and environmental health coordinator Mike Repacholi told journalists.
"A single sunburn in childhood can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life," he added.
The WHO campaign, organised with the United Nations' Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to help schools highlight the dangers of excessive exposure to ultra-violet radiation from the sun and do more to prevent melanoma, cataracts and eye damage.
There are around 130,000 new cases every year of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, and two to three million annual cases of non-malignant melanomas.
Ultra-violet (UV) rays have increased in intensity in many parts of the world in recent years because the protective ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere is thinning due to pollution, scientists say.
"As ozone depletion becomes more marked and as people around the world engage more in sun-seeking behaviour, the risk of developing health complications from over-exposure to UV radiation is becoming a substantial public health concern," WHO Director-General Lee Jong-Wook said in a statement.
The WHO campaign was launched to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
International scientists warned two weeks ago that the hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole was growing again.
It had been stabilising in recent years thanks to an international agreement to cut emissions of chemicals that harm the ozone layer.
UNEP said that without that agreement -- the Montreal Protocol -- some estimates indicated there would be 130 million more eye cataracts and 1.5 million more cases of skin cancer in the world.
The WHO campaign aims to expand to other countries the approach taken in Australia and the United States, where schools have been involved in "sun protection" programmes for about 20 years.
It has produced booklets in several languages for primary and secondary schools that encourage children to wear hats and sunglasses, teach them the sun can damage skin and eyes, and advise them to stick to the shade at some times of the year.
"We would try and encourage children at school not to be outdoors between around 10 in the morning and three or four o'clock in the afternoon," WHO specialist Eva Rehfuss said.
"A final means of protecting oneself should be sunscreen lotion but this really should be the last resort," she added.
While some ultra-violet exposure is necessary for good health, the campaign also dampens the summertime drive for a healthy-looking tan.
"A tan, while looking nice, while presented in certain fashions as healthy, in fact is really the body's defence against greater ultra-violet exposure," Repacholi said.
First of all, i did use sunblock.... and DEVON u know how white i am... i m just more sensitive to sun then u are.... i gues i need spf 40 next time.... but thanks for the concern.
First.. DEVIN.... well u need a higher sunblock because if u got a sunburn, u have a risk of getting skin cancer.. especially out in california.. make sure u put it on everyday.. dont take chances.. dont go out in the sun for more than 10 minutes at a time if ur not sure.. find some shade and sit there...
.....i'm not really serious anyway.. i just feel like being informative...
A single case of sunburn can "significantly" increase a child's risk of getting skin cancer later in life, the World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday, when it launched a global campaign to educate children about the dangers.
"We know that a child's skin is more sensitive and even a short time in the sun can produce serious sunburn," WHO radiation and environmental health coordinator Mike Repacholi told journalists.
"A single sunburn in childhood can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life," he added.
The WHO campaign, organised with the United Nations' Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to help schools highlight the dangers of excessive exposure to ultra-violet radiation from the sun and do more to prevent melanoma, cataracts and eye damage.
There are around 130,000 new cases every year of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, and two to three million annual cases of non-malignant melanomas.
Ultra-violet (UV) rays have increased in intensity in many parts of the world in recent years because the protective ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere is thinning due to pollution, scientists say.
"As ozone depletion becomes more marked and as people around the world engage more in sun-seeking behaviour, the risk of developing health complications from over-exposure to UV radiation is becoming a substantial public health concern," WHO Director-General Lee Jong-Wook said in a statement.
The WHO campaign was launched to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
International scientists warned two weeks ago that the hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole was growing again.
It had been stabilising in recent years thanks to an international agreement to cut emissions of chemicals that harm the ozone layer.
UNEP said that without that agreement -- the Montreal Protocol -- some estimates indicated there would be 130 million more eye cataracts and 1.5 million more cases of skin cancer in the world.
The WHO campaign aims to expand to other countries the approach taken in Australia and the United States, where schools have been involved in "sun protection" programmes for about 20 years.
It has produced booklets in several languages for primary and secondary schools that encourage children to wear hats and sunglasses, teach them the sun can damage skin and eyes, and advise them to stick to the shade at some times of the year.
"We would try and encourage children at school not to be outdoors between around 10 in the morning and three or four o'clock in the afternoon," WHO specialist Eva Rehfuss said.
"A final means of protecting oneself should be sunscreen lotion but this really should be the last resort," she added.
While some ultra-violet exposure is necessary for good health, the campaign also dampens the summertime drive for a healthy-looking tan.
"A tan, while looking nice, while presented in certain fashions as healthy, in fact is really the body's defence against greater ultra-violet exposure," Repacholi said.
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.....i'm not really serious anyway.. i just feel like being informative...
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