Sun protection Needed Sunburn risk is greater for young adults with melanin-rich skin, JAOA study finds The survey found people 18 to 29 years old who don’t self-identify as white were more likely to report having red or painful sunburn. March 1, 2017Wednesday AOA Staff Contact AOA Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Topics JAOAmelanomaskin cancersunburn A study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found sunburn prevention is needed most among young adults, specifically those with darker skin. “The concern here is that participants with high melanin content skin may think they’re naturally protected from sunburn, which isn’t true,” says researcher Tracy Favreau, DO. “We need to develop tailored sunburn prevention programs to change attitudes and risk of melanoma.” Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. Dr. Favreau adds that melanoma is the most predominant type of cancer for people 25 to 29 years old and the second most predominant for people 15 to 29 years old. “Osteopathic medicine is largely focused on prevention, and melanoma caused by sun exposure is imminently preventable,” she notes. Dr. Favreau is an osteopathic dermatologist in Florida, where the survey was conducted. The survey found people 18 to 29 years old with melanin rich skin were more likely to report having red or painful sunburn. The authors believe that this group of people may have a false sense of invincibility to sunburn. Osteopathic medical student and lead author Sergey Arutyunyan, OMS IV, thinks there may be opportunities through technology and social media to better target young people to use sun protection. “We may need an app that gamifies sun protection and rewards taking precautions. Simply warning of the danger is not having an effect,” Arutyunyan says. Read the JAOA study to learn more. More in Patient Care More than just physical: Addressing mental health in sports injuries Sports injuries affect athletes physically and emotionally. Here’s how physicians can aid athletes’ recovery by supporting their mental health. DOs share why they are staying in patient care Despite burnout and career shifts, many DOs remain in patient care, valuing the deep connections they make with patients and the impact they have on their lives. Previous articleLost in translation: Best practices for working with medical interpreters Next articleICU rotation takeaway: ‘Medicine is more than finding health’
More than just physical: Addressing mental health in sports injuries Sports injuries affect athletes physically and emotionally. Here’s how physicians can aid athletes’ recovery by supporting their mental health.
DOs share why they are staying in patient care Despite burnout and career shifts, many DOs remain in patient care, valuing the deep connections they make with patients and the impact they have on their lives.