There has been a dramatic increase in two types of non-melanoma skin cancer in people under 40 according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic. The most likely causes: the fact that young people still seek tans and the depletion of the earth's ozone layer.
The results of the study were published in the most recent edition of the 'Journal of the American Medical Association.'
The two types of skin cancer in question are basal and squamous cell carcinomas. They are usually prevalent in people over the age of 50 but now doctors say there have even been cases in teenagers and pre-teens.
'This has been evolving over time, and it has just gotten to the point where it has hit our radar screen,' said Dr. Leslie Christenson, a dermatologic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic and the leader of the study.
'Parents are good about putting sunscreen on children, but as children reach their adolescent years, parents are no longer allowed to do that.'
The study examined the health records of 500 people living in Olmstead County, Minnesota. The population there is mostly white and according to Dr. Christenson, is representative of white populations throughout the country.
These two types of skin cancer are most common in people with blond or red hair. They do not spread quickly like melanoma but if they are left untreated for a long period of time, they could metastasize and cause significant problems.
All told, 800,000 new cases of basal carcinoma and 200,000 of squamous cell cancer are reported annually in the U.S. But the analysis found an alarming trend. In 2003, there were 32 cases of the cancers per 100,000 people under age 40 compared with 13 per 100,000 in the late 1970s. More than 56 percent of the cancers were in women.
Tanning salons and ozone depletion are seen as the top reasons for the problem. The fact that young people are still seeking to get tans despite all of the warnings about skin cancer is another major contributing factor.
It is recommended that even young people have their skin checked for cancerous growths when they go in for their annual checkup.
