The most dangerous form of skin cancer is not caused by sunshine, but by the number of moles on your body, say an international group of researchers hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The research appears in an issue of Nature Genetics, and it states that melanoma is more likely to be contracted by people with an abundance of moles.

In no way does this mean that sunshine does not cause skin cancer. But melanoma(by far the most deadly form of skin cancer) accounts for 10% of all skin cancer cases, and research has shown that a contraction of melanoma can be linked to factors other than sun absorption. According to Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information:

“This study confirms Cancer Research UK’s advice that people with lots of moles – as well as those with red hair or fair skin – are more at risk of the most dangerous form of skin cancer and should take extra care in the sun.

“The research does not in any way contradict the bulk of scientific evidence, which shows that most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet [UV] rays.”

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer because of its tendency to spread to other parts of the body if not taken care of early on. Because of fear of contracting a form of skin cancer, some of us have developed a tendency to stay out of the sun as much as possible, which can lead to a serious vitamin D deficiency(the sun is the most important source of vitamin D). This lack of the essential vitamin can lead to other cancers or osteoporosis down the road.

Because of this, scientists are urging us to enjoy activities in the sun once more. They believe, in light of this research, some warnings about the dangers of sunbathing are scaring people unnecessarily. Of course, you should always use protection when spending time in the sun, and be sure to take extra precautions if you have an abundance of moles or particularly fair skin.

To read the full article, published by The Times, click here. And if you’ve noticed an irregularity on your skin that needs to be addressed, click here to see Sherman Health’s Screenings page. You’ll need to scroll down a bit to find information on skin screenings. Once you’re there, be sure to read the “ABCD” method of indentifying abnormalities.