USA: The FLARE intervention significantly improved sun-protective behaviors in children at elevated melanoma risk and temporarily reduced self-reported sunburn immediately after the intervention. However, it did not reduce sunburn over time compared with active education, suggesting that additional strategies are needed for sustained melanoma-prevention benefits.

Children who have a parent who survived melanoma have approximately twice the lifetime risk of developing melanoma, making early adoption of effective
sun-protection habits particularly important. Despite this increased risk, children may not consistently use protective measures and can experience preventable sunburns.
A randomized clinical trial led by Yelena P. Wu, Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and colleagues evaluated whether a family-focused behavioral program delivered through telehealth could strengthen sun-protection practices and reduce sunburn among these high-risk children.
The study published in JAMA Dermatology enrolled 364 parent-child pairs between April 2020 and October 2023. Participants were recruited through a cancer registry as well as statewide and clinical databases. Eligible melanoma survivors had at least one child aged 8 to 17 years who had experienced at least one sunburn during the preceding year.
Participants were randomly assigned to either the Family, Lifestyles, Actions, and Risk Education (FLARE) intervention or an active educational control group. Both programs consisted of telehealth-based educational modules delivered over four weeks. FLARE additionally focused on familial melanoma risk and practical skills designed to help children adopt better sun-protection behaviors.
The primary outcome was the change in children's sunburn occurrence from baseline through two postintervention assessments. Researchers also evaluated sun-protective behaviors and intentional or unintentional tanning.
The analysis showed:
  • The FLARE intervention did not significantly alter the rate of sunburn over time compared with the control group.
  • At the first postintervention assessment, children in the FLARE group reported fewer sunburns than those receiving control education.
  • Sun-protective behaviors improved significantly more among FLARE participants, with the benefit maintained through the second postintervention assessment.
  • No significant differences were found in intentional or unintentional tanning, which were uncommon among participants at baseline.
The findings indicate that while a brief family-based telehealth intervention can strengthen sun-protective practices, improvements in behavior did not translate into sustained reductions in sunburn during follow-up. The researchers suggest that additional approaches may be necessary to maintain protection and prevent sunburn in children with elevated melanoma risk.
The study's active educational control may also have contributed to improvements in both groups, potentially making it harder to detect a difference in sunburn outcomes. Overall, the results support behavioral interventions as part of melanoma-prevention efforts but highlight the need for longer-term strategies to translate improved sun protection into consistent prevention of sunburn.
Reference:
Wu YP, Stump TK, Deboeck PR, et al. Melanoma Prevention Among Children of Melanoma Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 07, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.3877


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Article Source : JAMA Dermatology

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Medha Baranwal

Medha Baranwal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Amity University. Since May 2018, she has been contributing to Medical Dialogues, writing and editing medical news articles that translate complex research into clear, accessible information for healthcare professionals.

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