title: Time to get serious about skin cancer prevention.
abstract: In this commentary, we discuss the skin cancer epidemic in the United States and provide data to indicate that the United States public is not protecting itself from ultraviolet radiation, the primary risk factor for melanoma, and nonmelanoma skin cancer. In our opinion, skin cancer control in this country may be hindered by uncertainty about the effectiveness of sun protection strategies, inconsistent messages about the relative effectiveness of sun protection measures by federal and national organizations, and conventional research approaches that have identified few effective sun protection interventions for adults and targeted individuals for behavior change without considering the environmental context. A policy and research agenda is put forth to remedy the apparent insufficiencies in the current approach to skin cancer prevention in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 S. 2nd Street, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. lazov001@umn.edu
authors.forename: DeAnn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazovich
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Rachel Isaksson
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents