On Spring and Sunblock

Spring is the season for many things: flowers, chocolate bunnies, and allergies are just a few. It is also the time of the year when we start to be reminded once again of the threat of skin cancer. Reminders to always use sun screen to protect yourself and examine your skin are everywhere. With this vigilance, we can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer. Right? However, in a Mayo Clinic study, it was found that prevalence of skin cancer in people aged 18-39 has increased.

Could this be because of a stronger sun and climate change? The Mayo Clinic believes that this increase of Melanoma in young adults is from the use of tanning beds. This might seem as a "duh" moment to young adults because we grew up in a generation that was always taught that tanning beds are a known carcinogen. Despite this awareness, melanoma cases in women are eight times as likely and four times as likely in men.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in young adults, and it is something that should be a concern to everyone. On the bright side, even though there is an increase in cases, young adults are less likely to die from skin cancer because of early detection, and that is always a plus.