Military members, veterans face increased risk for melanoma

Key takeaways:

• Military members stationed in countries close to the equator face a higher risk of skin cancer.
• Air Force members are also at an elevated risk due to ionizing radiation exposure from flying at high altitudes.

SAN DIEGO — U.S. military members face an increased risk of developing melanoma due to occupational hazards, according to an American Academy of Dermatology press release.

Exposure to ultraviolet light increases anyone’s risk for skin cancer, including melanoma which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. However, active members of the military and veterans may be exposed to higher levels of skin cancer than others.

“Most members of the military tend to serve when they’re younger, which is when cellular mutations that cause cancer over time can start to develop,” Rebecca I. Hartman, MD, MPH, FAAD, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and chief of the dermatology section at VA Boston Healthcare System, said at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

According to Hartman, the increased risk of skin cancer is associated with the location where soldiers are stationed and the branch of the military in which they serve. The risk of skin cancer in military members increases when they are stationed in countries closer to the equator, as the UV levels in these countries are higher.

“Challenges in practicing effective sun protection, like adequate access to sunscreen or protective clothing and not having access to sun protection in times of conflict, contribute to this risk,” Hartman added.

According to the release, recent studies of Iraq War veterans found that these soldiers infrequently used sun protection, even though 75% of them reported working outside more than 6 hours a day. Furthermore, 40% of the veterans stated they were not aware of the risks for skin cancer or the necessary precautions they needed to take.

“Most of the veterans returning from that war reported being sunburned,” Hartman said, highlighting the fact that having more than five sunburns doubles the average risk of melanoma, whereas a single blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles the risk.

Air Force members are also at an increased risk compared with the general population and even other branches of military because they are exposed to greater levels of ionizing radiation from flying at high altitudes. As a result, Hartman recommends that military pilots should not only be wearing sunscreen but also be screened for skin cancer more frequently.

“It’s important for those in the military to use sun protection, especially when they’re in sunny areas, and for both military members and veterans to look for changes to their skin regularly,” Hartman said. “If they notice anything that looks different, is changing, or bleeding, or if they have a history of skin cancer or have had a lot of sunburns, then they should see a board-certified dermatologist.”