Childhood sun exposure as a risk factor for melanoma: a systematic review of epidemiologic studies
Abstract
Objective To review the evidence that childhood is a period of particular susceptibility to the carcinogenic effects of solar radiation. Methods Studies were identified through searches of computerized bibliographic databases and article reference lists. Eligible studies were those that reported risks of melanoma associated with sun exposure during two or more age-periods. Results The measurement of childhood sun exposure varied across studies, preventing formal meta-analysis for most measures. We found that the way in which sun exposure was measured led to strikingly different conclusions regarding the association between age-specific sun exposure and risk of melanoma. Ecological studies assessing ambient sun exposure consistently reported lower risks of melanoma among people who resided in a low ultraviolet (UV) environment in childhood compared with those who resided in a high UV environment. In contrast, case-control studies differed widely in their findings, and no consistent associations with childhood sun exposure were observed. Conclusions Ecological studies provided better-quality evidence than case-control studies for examining the effects of exposure to sunlight during specific age periods. Exposure to high levels of sunlight in childhood is a strong determinant of melanoma risk, but sun exposure in adulthood also plays a role.
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It has long been known that sun exposure in childhood is strongly associated with risk of melanoma.
“It has long been known that sun exposure in childhood is strongly associated with risk of melanoma [242], but the relative causative contributions of UV-A and UV-B radiation are unknown.”
An intermittent pattern of exposure, and exposure in childhood, are more important for the development of melanoma.
“Melanoma and SCC have different associations with UV-radiation; SCC is strongly associated with accumulated lifetime sun exposure [241], whilst an intermittent pattern of exposure, and exposure in childhood, are more important for the development of melanoma [242, 243].”
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- Authors
- Whiteman, D. C., Whiteman, C. A., & Green, A. C.
- Affiliations
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Whiteman, David C.
- Venue
- Cancer Causes & Control
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 69-82
- ISSN
- 0957-5243 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-7225
- OpenAlex
- W1270711560
- Cited by
- 633
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 2.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Cancer Causes & Control (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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
- childhood sun exposure, melanoma risk, ultraviolet radiation, ecological study, case-control study
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Child, Emigration and Immigration, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Male, Melanoma, Residence Characteristics, Risk Factors, Skin Neoplasms, Sunlight, Epidemiologic Research Design, Incidence, Age Distribution
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