Prevention of malignant melanoma

Dermatologists and physicians of other specialities, as well as other healt h professionals have made tremendous efforts to improve the public educatio n (primary prevention) and early detection (secondary prevention) of cutane ous malignant melanoma (CMM) especially during the last decade. In Australia, the country with the highest incidence of CMM in the world,th e first public and effective campaigns were already carried out in the sixt ies. Through the public campaigns, the knowledge increased about skin cance r, and the attitude and behavior toward sun exposure changed in the populat ion. In the USA and Great Britain too, effective public campaigns were carr ied out in great numbers and extensive experience was acquired. In Germany, prevention campaigns were first run in regional areas. In 1989,the Commiss ion of Early Detection and Prevention of Melanoma of the German Dermatologi cal Society launched nation-wide campaigns. These activities were complemen ted by regional campaigns in the 1990s. The analysis of previous campaigns demonstrates that single activities are less effective and repeated campaigns are necessary to increase knowledge a bout skin and to change attitudes a nd behavior towards UV-exposure. In add ition, the development of sun protective clothings and structural changes, e.g. creation of shady places around open-air swimming pools, should be aim ed for. Physicians of other specialities and other health professionals sho uld also be included in prevention campaigns.