Skin Cancer Prevention Update:( How New Research a New Law and New...),Health

How New Research, a New Law and New Regulations Could Hold the Key to

Reducing Rising Skin Cancer Rates

NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- It is estimated that more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007. While most skin cancers have excellent cure rates if detected and treated early, dermatologists stress that prevention is still the best medicine. In fact, dermatologists are hopeful that the recent introduction of a new law aimed at warning Americans about the risks of indoor tanning devices and new sunscreen regulations could prevent skin cancer in future generations and reduce the estimated $1.5 billion annual financial toll associated with treating non-melanoma skin cancers alone.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's (Academy) Skin Academy, dermatologist Sandra I. Read, MD, FAAD, instructor of dermatology at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., presented a summary of the latest developments in skin cancer prevention, including a new study of the most common locations of melanoma in each gender.

"Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, whether natural sunlight or artificial light used in indoor tanning, is a carcinogen that studies have shown directly increases a person's risk of developing skin cancer," said Dr. Read. "We're seeing an increase in skin cancers across all age groups, and the National Cancer Institute reports that melanoma is the second most common skin cancer in younger women aged 20-29. Because of this disturbing trend, lawmakers and regulatory agencies have proposed new initiatives to help protect Americans from this serious health threat."

Men, Women and Melanoma

Dr. Read discussed how clinical studies remain an invaluable tool in further understanding skin cancer. Now, a new study published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in March 2007 examined whether the location where
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