Health initiatives for the prevention of skin cancer

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014:810:485-99. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0437-2_27.

Abstract

Skin cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in white population worldwide. However, because the most prominent risk factor-solar UV-radiation and/or artificial UV from sunbeds-is known, skin cancer is highly preventable be primary prevention. This prevention needs, that the public is informed by simple and balanced messages about the possible harms and benefits of UV-exposure and how a person should behave under certain conditions of UV-exposure. For this purpose information and recommendations for the public must be age- and target-group specific to cover all periods of life and to reach all sub-groups of a population, continuously. There is a need that political institutions together with Health Institutions and Societies (e.g., European Commission, WHO, EUROSKIN, ICNIRP, etc.), which are responsible for primary prevention of skin cancer, find a common language to inform the public, in order not to confuse it. This is especially important in connection with the ongoing Vitamin D debate, where possible positive effects of UV have to be balanced with the well known skin cancer risk of UV. A continuously ongoing evaluation of interventions and programs in primary prevention is a pre-requisite to assess the effectiveness of strategies. There is surely no "no message fits all" approach, but balanced information in health initiatives for prevention of skin cancer, which use evidence-base strategies, will further be needed in the future to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality skin cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / prevention & control*
  • Skin / radiation effects
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Sunscreening Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Vitamin D / metabolism

Substances

  • Sunscreening Agents
  • Vitamin D