Just two severe sunburns before the age of 18 can increase a child's risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

"A child's immune system and cell repair mechanisms eventually will be compromised after repeated sunburns and tans, just like in adults," says Dr. Denise Metry, chief of the dermatology clinic at Texas Children's Hospital and assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. "Their bodies are unable to catch and destroy damaged cells, which can later grow exponentially and turn into skin cancer."

There are three types of skin cancer. Squamous-cell and basal cell carcinomas are cancers that often occur on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to the sun, including the face, the back of the hands and the ears. The third and most dangerous type is melanoma, which is a cancer that begins in the skin and can spread to other parts of the body.

"Melanoma is one of the fastest growing types of cancer in the U.S., with the number of cases doubling in the last 20 years," says Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer, director of Texas Children's Cancer Center's long-term survivor program and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "Several thousand people die each year from the disease. On average, children and adolescents get three times as much sun radiation as adults do and need special protection."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.