WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), John Joyce (PA-13), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Deborah Ross (NC-02) recently introduced a resolution supporting state, local, and community initiatives to encourage parents, teachers, camp counselors, and childcare professionals to take measures to prevent sunburns in the minors they care for, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that State, local, and community entities should continue to support efforts to curb incidents of skin cancer beginning with childhood skin protection. 

“The number of Ohioans who have been diagnosed with melanoma nearly doubled between 2000 and 2019, with more Ohioans succumbing to the disease than the national average,”said Congressman Joyce, Co-Chair of the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus. “As a melanoma survivor myself, I understand firsthand the importance of establishing skin protection habits at a young age. By encouraging state and local policy makers to support efforts to motivate young people to take preventative action to protect their skin, we can make a real difference in reducing melanoma rates amongst Ohioans.”

“Supergoop! applauds the introduction of this bipartisan resolution that supports community-wide efforts to curb skin cancer early in children’s lives. Since sun exposure is cumulative throughout a person’s lifetime, Supergoop! is committed to educating and providing resources to the country’s youth early in their life. This important resolution recognizes the importance of sunscreen, sun prevention education, and a holistic approach to preventing skin cancer from a young age. We thank the members of the bipartisan Skin Cancer Caucus for acting on this critical issue,” said Holly Thaggard, Founder, Supergoop!

“The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) is thrilled that Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH 14th District) introduced the essential Sunscreen in Schools resolution to protect our nation’s children from skin cancer,” said Terrence A. Cronin Jr., MD, FAAD, President, American Academy of Dermatology. “Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the nation, and current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by seeking shade, wearing sun protective clothing, and applying sunscreen to exposed skin will help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. The AADA supports this life-saving legislation that can save millions of lives by supporting Federal, state, and local efforts to exempt sunscreen from over-the-counter medication bans in schools.”

BACKGROUND: 

• Studies show that suffering from just one sunburn during childhood can double the risk of an individual developing melanoma in adulthood. 

• Despite that fact, only 15 states across the U.S. have passed laws that allow kids to have sunscreen in schools. Because the FDA classifies sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug, children living in most states are unable to even bring sunscreen into the classroom, because most states have laws on the books requiring that a student have a doctors note to use an over-the-counter drug at school. 

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 70% of states still have yet to address this issue, leaving young people across the country vulnerable to UV exposure.