July 6, 2006 Contact: Jerry Carey Phone: (856) 566-6171 UMDNJ
Dermatologist Warns Young Women of Danger on the Beach This
Summer NEW BRUNSWICK - That sleek, bronzed tan that many young
women seek on the beach each summer looks fashionable, but a
UMDNJ dermatologist is warning young women that it may also be
deadly. “Melanoma is now the leading cause of cancer death among
women between 25 and 30 years old,” said Dr. Amy Pappert of the
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Years ago, we would
expect to see this disease later in adulthood, but now we’re
seeing melanomas more and more among women in their mid-20s.”
According to Dr. Pappert, genetics and environment combine to
determine the risk of skin cancer. An individual normally needs
both factors to be at risk for melanoma, which is the most
deadly form of skin cancer. “But you can also get enough sun
exposure to make up for the lack of a family history and develop
melanoma without the genetic predisposition,” Dr. Pappert said.
“The damage from sun expo