Sarah Drury takes good care of her skin, now.
She gets her moles checked every year and always wears sunscreen.
Her grandfather died of Melanoma. She says that's why all members of her family are extra careful.
But, as a child, Sarah wasn't always careful.
She rarely protected her skin from the sun and suffered many painful sunburns.
Studies show that even one sunburn can lead to permanent damage.
Dr. Mark Thieberg, a dermatologist at Baylor Plano, says most people don't realize the long-term effects of a single burn.
One blistering sunburn as a child will actually double your lifetime risk for Melanoma.
He suggests parents educated young children about skin care, so they develop good habits early on.
He also says those with fair skin, a family history of skin cancer and a lot of previous sun exposure should get their skin checked by a doctor.
Pay special attention to mole. make sure they're not oddly shaped or colored and haven't changed.
As for Sarah, she says she'll spend most of her summer avoiding the sun, knowing it will pay off in the future.
She gets her moles checked every year and always wears sunscreen.
Her grandfather died of Melanoma. She says that's why all members of her family are extra careful.
But, as a child, Sarah wasn't always careful.
She rarely protected her skin from the sun and suffered many painful sunburns.
Studies show that even one sunburn can lead to permanent damage.
Dr. Mark Thieberg, a dermatologist at Baylor Plano, says most people don't realize the long-term effects of a single burn.
One blistering sunburn as a child will actually double your lifetime risk for Melanoma.
He suggests parents educated young children about skin care, so they develop good habits early on.
He also says those with fair skin, a family history of skin cancer and a lot of previous sun exposure should get their skin checked by a doctor.
Pay special attention to mole. make sure they're not oddly shaped or colored and haven't changed.
As for Sarah, she says she'll spend most of her summer avoiding the sun, knowing it will pay off in the future.
