Clinical Summary
Skin Cancer Prevention: Behavioral Counseling
March 20, 2018
Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
| Population | Young adults, adolescents, children, and parents of young children with fair skin type | Adults older than 24 years with fair skin type | Skin self-examination in adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommendation | Counsel about minimizing exposure to UV radiation. Grade: B |
Selectively offer counseling about minimizing exposure to UV radiation. Grade: C |
No recommendation. Grade: I (insufficient evidence) |
| Risk Assessment | Ultraviolet radiation exposure during childhood and adolescence increases risk of skin cancer later in life, especially when more severe damage occurs. Persons with fair skin type (light hair and eye color, freckles, those who sunburn easily) are at increased risk of skin cancer. Persons who use tanning beds and those with a history of sunburns or previous skin cancer are also at greatly increased risk of skin cancer. Other factors that increase risk include an increased number of nevi (moles) and atypical nevi, family history of skin cancer, HIV infection, and history of receiving an organ transplant. | ||
| Behavioral Counseling | Behavioral counseling interventions target sun protection behaviors to reduce UV radiation exposure, including use of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor of 15 or greater; wearing hats, sunglasses, or sun-protective clothing; avoiding sun exposure; seeking shade during midday hours (10 am to 4 pm); and avoiding indoor tanning use. | ||
| Other Relevant USPSTF Recommendations | The USPSTF has issued a recommendation on screening for skin cancer in adults. | ||
For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making these recommendations, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.