PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SUNBURN - A SURVEY OF PARENTAL PRACTICE IN LEICESTER

The incidence of melanoma in the U.K. is increasing more rapidly than that of most other malignant tumours, Sunburn in childhood increases t he risk of malignant melanoma in later life and it is therefore essent ial that protection of children is improved if primary prevention of m elanoma is to be effective. We asked 238 parents in Leicester how they protected their children against sunburn, how often their children su ffered sunburn, and whether they had heard of malignant melanoma. Alth ough most (80%) had heard of melanoma, 47% did not regularly ensure th at their children used a sunblock lotion, and only 34% regularly prote cted them from the midday sun, Forty-eight per cent of parents stated that their children burned at least once a year. New approaches to pub lic education about melanoma may be needed to improve the protection o f children against sunburn.