Am i more likely to get skin cancer from burning in the sun when i was a child, or from tanning on a sunbed, but not burning?

I have read one bad sunburn as a child leads to more of a chance of getting skin cancer later in life. I doubt tanning on a sunbed is much better.

I got over a bad case of Basel Cell on both sides of my and after treatment and recovery, my doctor told me that sun burn is accumulative and that I may experience more in my lifetime, using sunscreen and a wide brim hat helps a lot.

I have read one bad sunburn as a child leads to more of a chance of getting skin cancer later in life. I doubt tanning on a sunbed is much better.

Hey there,

Just plain old being out in the sun anytime gives you an increased chance of skin cancer. UV rays from the sun damage the DNA in your skin cells and sometimes can cause mutations in your DNA. Most of the time your cells repair them or they arent damaging but once in awhile they cause cancer. It just makes sense that with time the chance increases.

Of course you cant stay out of the sun your whole life!!! That is why you wear sunblock or a hat etc.

I also believe the more times you get burnt the greater the chance of skin cancer as well, but again usually there has to be quite a bit of exposure to sun for this to happen, so you usually see skin cancer in adults as opposed to teens etc.

Tanning bed is the same deal, not good for you as well. They will often say that tanning increases your vitamin D synthesis which is true as UV causes a reaction for this to happen. But it is a bunch of BS they say to get your business!!!

I wouldnt worry to much about it since going outside is part of life. Just avoid sun tanning beds and wear suncreen if you are going to be in the hot sun for awhile.

Greg

Thanks guys.