Sunny vacations may lead to kids' mole development

A new study suggests that sun-filled family vacations can leave children with a permanent memento -- more moles on their skin. These moles, also known as melanocytic nevi, are a precursor of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

In a study of nearly 2,200 German children 6 to 7 years old, investigators found that the more often a child's family vacationed in sunny, southern climes, the more likely he or she was to have multiple melanocytic nevi.

In contrast, there was no relationship between children's moles and family vacations in northern European areas.
The findings suggest that occasional exposure to intense UV radiation is especially important in mole development, the study authors report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The findings suggest that parents should be vigilant in guarding their children's skin during vacations in high-UV areas, according to the study authors, led by Dr. Olaf Gelfeller of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

For their study, the researchers surveyed parents about family vacations taken since their child was born, as well as their child's typical sun exposure throughout the summer. All of the children also had the number of moles on their skin counted.

There was a direct relationship between the number of vacations families took in areas south of Germany -- such as Italy or other Mediterranean countries -- and the number of moles on children's skin.

Moles are extremely common, particularly among light-skinned people, and the vast majority will never develop into melanoma. Genes are a strong determinant of how many moles a person will develop, regardless of sun exposure; the more moles parents have, the more their children are likely to have.

However, sun exposure also contributes, and based on the current findings, intermittent bouts of intense UV exposure may be particularly important, according to Gelfeller and his colleagues.

They suggest that parents minimize their children's sun exposure when they're visiting sunnier parts of the world.

To prevent sunburns, experts suggest staying in the shade during peak UV hours, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. When children are in the sun, they should wear hats and other protective clothing, and have sunscreen on exposed areas of skin.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, May 15, 2007.