Severe sunburns increase skin cancer risk, study finds

A large meta-analysis published in JAMA Dermatology, involving data from over 321,000 individuals across 17 studies, has linked repeated severe sunburns to a significantly increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma.

Research indicates that individuals with a moderate frequency of severe sunburns face a 51% higher risk of developing the disease, while those with frequent burns see the risk rise to 69%. Most notably, frequent intense sunburns during childhood can triple the risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood.

Experts, including oncologist Adrienne Victor from the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester, explain that UV radiation causes DNA damage in skin cells. While the body attempts to repair this damage, errors during the process can lead to accumulated mutations over time, even after the visible redness or pain has subsided.