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Cited by 370Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and ManagementSkin Protection and Agingmelanin and skin pigmentation

Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma: does age matter? A comprehensive meta-analysis

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Dennis, Leslie K., Vanbeek, Marta J., Beane Freeman, Laura E., Smith, Brian J., Dawson, Deborah V., Coughlin, Julie A.·2008·Annals of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1016/j.annepidem.2008.04.006PMC PMC2873840
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Abstract

Purpose Sunburns are an important risk factor for melanoma and those occurring in childhood are often cited as posing the greatest risk. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the magnitude of association for melanoma and sunburns during childhood, adolescence, adulthood and over a lifetime.Methods After reviewing over 1300 article titles and evaluating 270 articles in detail, we pooled odds ratios from 51 independent study populations for "ever" sunburned and risk of cutaneous melanoma. Among these, 26 studies reported results from dose-response analyses. Dose-response analyses were examined using both fixed-effects models and Bayesian random-effects models.Results An increased risk of melanoma was seen with increasing number of sunburns for all time-periods (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and lifetime). In an attempt to understand how risk between life-periods compares, we also report these same linear models on a scale of five sunburns per decade for each life-period. The magnitude of risk for five sunburns per decade is highest for adult and lifetime sunburns.Conclusions Overall, these results show an increased risk of melanoma with increasing number of sunburns during all life-periods, not just childhood. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing sunburns during all life-periods.

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  • Individuals with light skin are especially susceptible to these cancers, most notably melanoma, which is closely associated with having had severe sunburns during childhood and adolescence.

    “Individuals with light skin are especially susceptible to these cancers, most notably melanoma, which is closely associated with having had severe sunburns during childhood and adolescence [39].”

    From A Comprehensive Review of the Role of UV Radiation in Photoaging Processes Between Different Types of Skin (2025) · cites this paper as [39]

    The Discussion (Adjustment for Sun Sensitivity) identifies lighter complexion as a risk factor for cutaneous melanoma. The Results link childhood and adolescent sunburns to melanoma risk and include studies of severe sunburns. The paper addresses melanoma, not susceptibility to the other cancers implied by “these cancers”; it also finds increased melanoma risk from sunburns in adulthood. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • One study found that melanoma risk was associated with the number of sunburns throughout life.

    “Despite links between early age sunburn and melanoma, one study has found that melanoma risk was associated with the number of sunburns throughout life165.”

    From Mechanisms and prevention of <scp>UV</scp>‐induced melanoma (2018) · cites this paper as [165]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [48]Beane Freeman LE Arsenic exposure, artificial tanning and melanoma in Iowa dissertation 2003 Univ. of Iowa Iowa City (IA)

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Authors
Dennis, L. K., Vanbeek, M. J., Beane Freeman, L. E., Smith, B. J., Dawson, D. V., & Coughlin, J. A.
Affiliations
University of Iowa (US)
Corresponding author
Dennis, Leslie K.
ORCID
Dennis, Leslie K.
Venue
Annals of Epidemiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-08
Volume
18
Issue
8
Pages
614-627
ISSN
1047-2797 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.annepidem.2008.04.006
PMC
PMC2873840
OpenAlex
W2139437006
Cited by
370
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 15
FWCI
1.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Annals of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (CA88834-01, R03CA088834)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
Keywords
sunburn, cutaneous melanoma, melanoma risk, childhood sunburn, adolescence, adulthood, dose-response relationship, sunburn prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Child, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Melanoma, Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced, Risk Factors, Skin Neoplasms, Sunburn, Ultraviolet Rays, Odds Ratio

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