CREDIT: Sunscreen photo via Shutterstock Fair-skinned children,
teens and young adults should learn about ways to reduce their
risk of skin cancer from their primary care doctors, a
government-appointed panel of experts recommends. The U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force said today (May 8) that research
shows such counseling from doctors can increase the use of sun-
protective behaviors, such as using sunscreen and avoiding
tanning beds, among those ages 10 to 24 years old. Because most
research on this topic involved fair-skinned people, the
recommendation applies only to this population. The task force,
which makes recommendations after weighing evidence on the
benefits and risks of a procedure, said it did not recommend
that doctors advise older adults on how to reduce their skin
cancer risk, because there is not enough evidence to show such
counseling actually changes behavior in people ages 24 and up.
In addition, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays after age 35 may
contribute less to a person's lifetime ri