sunscreening agents

Moles can be seen at birth, but most appear during childhood, increase in adolescence, and can continue to increase in number until about age 40 years. Most moles are harmless, and these benign moles can grow as the child grows. However, when moles change in certain ways, as described below, a skin specialist (dermatologist) should evaluate and possibly monitor them, as they might develop into a type of skin cancer called melanoma. In general, melanomas are rare in children and are treatable if found early.

Author/s:

E Meryl Shychuk, Elyse M C Harris, Lindsay A Thompson

Cutaneous Melanoma: A Review

Megan George — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:23:17 +0000

Date Added:

August 26, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publication Date:

August 25, 2025

URL:

Cutaneous Melanoma: A Review

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2025.13074

Keywords

Targeted and Immune Therapy

PMID (1):

40853557

MeSH

Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf

sunscreening agents

Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant

Immunotherapy

Skin Diseases* / therapy

A review of current knowledge regarding diagnosis and treatment of patients with cutaneous melanoma. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Importance: Melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the US, has increased from 8.8 per 100 000 in 1975 to 28.42 per 100 000 in 2022. Cutaneous melanoma comprises 94% of cases, with 104 960 US cases projected for 2025.

Observations: Cutaneous melanoma presents as a new, changing, or irregularly pigmented skin lesion. Cutaneous melanoma subtypes include superficial spreading (≈70%), lentigo maligna (≈15%), nodular (≈5%), desmoplastic (≈4%), amelanotic (2%-8%), spitzoid (<2%), and acral (≈1%). Risk factors for cutaneous melanoma include UV radiation exposure, skin type (eg, skin that always burns, never tans), presence of benign and atypical nevi, and personal or family history of melanoma. Primary prevention consists of avoiding direct sunlight and indoor tanning, and photoprotection (sunscreen and sun-protective clothing). Based on United States Cancer Statistics data from 1999 to 2021, 77% of patients with cutaneous melanoma had localized disease (involving only the primary site), 9.5% had regional (nodal) disease, 4.7% had distant metastasis, and 8.8% were unstaged. Melanoma staging, which includes tumor thickness and ulceration and presence of lymph node or distant metastasis, ranges from stage 0 (melanoma in situ) to stage IV (distant metastasis). Localized melanoma (stage IA-IIA) is surgically excised, with margins of 0.5 cm to 2 cm based on depth of invasion. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended for cutaneous melanoma that is ulcerated or 0.8 mm or more thick. Following surgery, patients with stage IIB-C melanoma have improved recurrence-free survival with adjuvant anti-PD-1 immunotherapy compared with placebo (hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence or death, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.49-0.79] for pembrolizumab and 0.42 [95% CI, 0.30-0.59] for nivolumab). For stage III disease, recurrence risk is decreased with nivolumab (HR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.60-0.86]), pembrolizumab (HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.51-0.72]), or BRAF + MEK inhibitor therapy (dabrafenib + trametinib) (HR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.43-0.63]). First-line treatment for distant metastatic or unresectable melanoma is dual checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and nivolumab. In 2017, 10-year melanoma-specific survival rates were 98% to 94% for stage IA-B, 88% to 75% for stage IIA-C, 88% for stage IIIA, 77% to 60% for stage IIIB-C, and 24% for stage IIID. In 2024, patients with distant metastatic or unresectable melanoma treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab had a 10-year overall survival rate of 43%.

Conclusions and relevance: Melanoma is a common cancer in the US. Treatment for stage IA-IIA melanoma is surgical resection. Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy after surgical excision improves recurrence-free survival in stages IIB-C melanoma. For stage III melanoma, anti-PD-1 immunotherapy or BRAF + MEK inhibitor therapy decreases risk of melanoma recurrence. First-line therapy for metastatic melanoma is dual checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab and nivolumab.

Author/s:

Urvashi Mitbander Joshi, Mohammed Kashani-Sabet, John M. Kirkwood

What Parents Should Know About Sun and Sunburns in Children

Aubrey Delammermore — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

April 5, 2023

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Pediatrics

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

March 27, 2023

URL:

What Parents Should Know About Sun and Sunburns in Children

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5907

Keywords

PMID (1):

36972060

MeSH

sunburn

sunscreening agents

zinc oxide

sun protection factor

Skin Neoplasms

Educational material for parents regarding sun exposure precautions for children. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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When out with your children, it is important to protect them from sunrays on sunny and cloudy days. Every sunburn will increase a person’s risk of having skin cancer later in life. Practicing sun safety can prevent skin aging and cancer.

The sun makes 2 types of ultraviolet (UV) rays, UVA and UVB, that are responsible for most sunburns. These rays are strongest between 11 AM and 3 PM, making this the most dangerous time to be exposed to the sun. People with light skin, blue eyes, and blonde or red hair are at higher risk for sunburns, but all skin types, dark or light, are at risk for damage from sunrays.

Author/s:

Wood, A. C., Albertini, L. W., Thompson, L. A.