Study: sunburns on back likely to lead to melanoma

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - The unofficial start to summer is this weekend, which means you'll probably be spending some time in the sun, laying by the pool, boating at the lake, and grilling in the backyard. We know it's important to protect our skin, but a new study says it's especially important to protect your back.

"Melanoma is the 5th most common tumor of Cancer on call Cancers in men, so it's actually on the rise. The most common location of all Melanoma is men on the back," said Dr. Cynthia Price.

According to a new Harvard study, sunburns on your back are more likely to lead to Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, compared to a burn on any other part of your body.

"It's an area that doesn't get daily sun exposure, you take off your shirt, you're getting more sunburns on your back," said Price.

Dr. Price says it can be an area we forget about, making it more susceptible to sun damage. But there are simple steps you can take to lower your chances of skin cancer.

"Avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. are the peak hours, making sure that you reapply your sunscreen every 80 minutes and that you're using the appropriate amount," she said.

Even if you've been slathering SPF on your whole life, you may not be using enough.

"Two ounces is really the appropriate amount which is sometimes half the sunscreen bottle that you purchase the drug store," said Price.