Instrumental Evaluation of Skin Colour and Melanoma Risk

Abstract

The mortality from melanoma has increased, especially in white males [1–5] possibly as a result of increased recreational exposure to sunlight. Rather than cumulative sun exposure, intermittent acute exposure, especially in childhood, seems to be an important risk factor, especially in subjects of certain phenotypes [6]. Relevant phenotypic characters include eye colour, hair colour, tanning ability, freckling, naevus number, race, ethnic group, skin phototype and skin colour [7]. In an extensive review of case-control studies, Evans et al. [8] noted that six out of nine studies demonstrated a statistically significant higher relative risk for fair or pale complexions with respect to non fair complexions. Relative risk factors ranged from 1.7 to 18.4, but most were between 2 and 3. However in all these studies, skin colour was evaluated by a visual score and was therefore subjective, non reproducible and non quantifiable.