Washington, Arizona pass legislation to protect children from sun exposure

Legislation to ensure that children are protected from sun exposure at school and youth camp was recently signed into law in Washington and Arizona, according to news releases from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

The SUNucate education was supported by the states’ dermatology associations and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Associations (ASDSA). It eliminates barriers prohibiting students from possessing and using over-the-counter sunscreen by exempting the products from medication ban requirements, including the need for a physician’s note or prescription, according to the release.

“Instilling the notion of sun-safe behavior in our youth is a key step in reducing the this of skin cancer,” Thomas E. Rohrer, MD, ASDSA president, stated in the releases. “As dermatologic surgeons, we must work to educate the population about the risks of excessive sun exposure and how to mitigate them.”

The ASDSA, Washington State Dermatology Association and Arizona Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Association worked with medical and health care organizations, including the American Medical Association and members of the National Council on Skin Cancer Protection and the Personal Care Products Council, to show state legislators the need for the measure, according tot the releases.

Reference: www.asds.net