Skin cancer prevention is of great importance as it is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Much skin damage occurs early in life. Adolescents are a vulnerable population, as they strive to fit in with their peers, and they neglect sun safety habits. Since a substantial portion of adolescents’ time is spent at school, school nurses are in an ideal position to develop and lead a sun safety action plan, using guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and evidence-based sun safety internet resources. It is hoped that incorporating a culture of skin health promotion and disease prevention among teens will lead to improved health outcomes in the future.
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