Doctors once said that sunlight is good for the body. It provides vitamin D that gives nutrients which will strengthen the bones and muscles. It also boosts the immune system which prevents people from diseases like the common cold.

Recently, new research is saying something different. Studies have shown that too much exposure to the sun is bad because this could lead to skin cancer.

In the United States alone, more than a million people are diagnosed with this disease each year. An estimated one hundred thousand of these patients will not survive. Though this is curable if diagnosed early, there is a more dangerous form that can’t be cured known as melanoma.

The greatest people at risk for this disease are children. This is especially for babies under 6 months of age since the skin cannot produce enough melanin to protect it from the sun’s ultraviolet light.

This is also affects adolescents and teenagers because of the length of time spent outdoors compared to adults. Whenever the skin gets tanned or burned, it damages the person’s skin cells and DNA. Since the body cannot repair all of these, it becomes cancerous cells. This strengthens the belief of dermatologists that there is a strong link between sunburn obtained during childhood to melanoma later in life.

Melanoma begins to show as moles or tumors on the skin. This can grow anywhere on the person’s body and are most frequently found on the leg or upper back. Should these grow darker, get larger, itch, spread or bleed then it is best to consult the doctor for proper examination.

Hear how 7 survivors beat melanoma.