The sun provides energy to all living things on earth. But it can also harm us. The sun is the main cause of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. There will be a million new cases of skin cancer this year. Skin cancer can and does occur in children and young adults, but most of the people who get skin cancer are older.
Older people get skin cancer because they have already received too much of the sun's damaging rays.
Your skin remembers each sunburn and each suntan year after year. All skin cancers are harmful and some, especially malignant melanoma, can be deadly if left untreated. Malignant melanoma is the second most common form of cancer in women 25 to 34 years of age. Sun exposure in early childhood and adolescence contributes to skin cancer. The sun and your baby's skin Your baby's skin is very delicate and it's up to you to protect it.