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Moderate sun exposure and nevus counts in parents are associated with development of melanocytic nevi in childhood
Author(s) -
Wiecker Tine Sander,
Luther Heike,
Buettner Petra,
Bauer Jürgen,
Garbe Claus
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.11114
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , nevus , melanocytic nevus , context (archaeology) , sunburn , logistic regression , demography , pediatrics , melanoma , paleontology , cancer research , sociology , biology
BACKGROUND Melanocytic nevi have been identified as the most important risk factor for cutaneous melanoma. Sun exposure, sunburns, and light pigmentation have been found to be associated with their development in childhood. To the authors' knowledge, nevus proneness of parents and the exact type of ultraviolet (UV) exposure have not yet been investigated in this context. The authors' objective was to determine independent risk factors and their impact for nevus development in childhood. METHODS The current study was conducted by two university departments of dermatology in 49 public nursery schools in Stuttgart, Germany and in 38 public nursery schools in Bochum, Germany. The cross‐sectional study included 1812 children aged 2–7 years and their parents. Total body nevus counts in children, assessment of pigmentary features, and nevus counts on the arms of parents were performed. Parents underwent a standardized interview concerning national origin and lifestyle features, as well as habits and magnitude of sun exposure of children. Analysis was performed by multivariate linear regression analysis and by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The number of nevi was found to steadily increase with age from a median of 3 at age 2 years to 19 at age 7 years ( P < 0.0001). High numbers of nevi in children were associated with the number of weeks on sunny holidays, outdoor activities at home, skin type, facial freckling, ethnicity of parents, and the number of nevi on the arms of parents. Previously experienced sunburns failed significance ( P = 0.0620). CONCLUSIONS The authors found a strong association between nevus development in children and the number of parental moles, which most likely points to an inherited factor. Moderate sun exposure such as outdoor activities during a German summer without sunburns seemed to be sufficient for induction of melanocytic nevi. The authors believe that these findings will have direct impact on concepts for preventive strategies. Cancer 2003;97:628–38. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11114