Children as young as five are being taught how to check UV levels and apply sunscreen in a new educational initiative designed to curb the UK’s rising melanoma rates.
The pilot, currently running in primary schools across Kent, is expected to roll out nationally as part of the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) curriculum by 2026, reported by BBC News.
The programme is led by skin cancer charity the Melanoma Fund, and aims to build lifelong habits by instilling early awareness of UV risk.
Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund, told the BBC: “People think melanoma is an older person’s disease, but it’s often seeded in childhood.
“We are saying to kids: this is your superpower.”
Children are learning to read UV indexes, understand when protection is needed, and apply SPF effectively.
At Platt Primary School in Maidstone, headteacher Emma Smith noted strong student engagement:
“If we educate them early, they’re more likely to keep that knowledge as they get older – especially when social media starts to influence their choices.”
Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is primarily linked to UV exposure.
According to Cancer Research UK, 9 in 10 melanoma cases are preventable, and around 18,300 people were diagnosed in 2021, with projections showing that number will climb to 21,300 by 2026.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Katie Lacy, told BBC News, stressed there is no such thing as a “safe tan,” added that tanning is a visible sign of skin damage “Most melanomas don’t come from existing moles – so if you notice something new, get it checked.”
Lacy also welcomed advances in AI-supported mole screening within the NHS, but underscored the importance of prevention through education and behavioural change.
The education drive comes as the British Beauty Council launched a nationwide UV Safety Initiative, aimed at reshaping how the UK approaches sun protection.
The campaign, supported by major industry players including L’Oréal Groupe, No7 Beauty Company, Hello Sunday, Boots and Lookfantastic, focuses on SPF education, accessibility, and regulatory reform.
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