Sun exposure habits in patients with cutaneous melanoma: a case control study.

Telephone interviews were conducted with 111 patients with cutaneous melanoma and 107 controls to determine sun-exposure habits during various life periods. Painful or blistering sunburns during either childhood or adolescence were associated with subsequent increased risk of developing cutaneous melanoma. While solar exposure does not appear to be a factor in some patients, when patients were divided into subgroups by age, sex, or sun type, each subset showed some increased risk associated with a factor related to short-term excessive sun exposure. Ill effects due to such exposures appeared to increase the risk of melanoma.