Family telehealth program improves sun protection in children of melanoma patients

A three-session family telehealth program improved sun-protective behaviors among children of melanoma patients, including measures of overall sun exposure and skin damage, but it did not reduce the rate of sunburn, according to a study led by Huntsman Cancer Institute investigators. The research, published in JAMA Dermatology, enrolled 364 pairs of melanoma patients and their children and tested a program called FLARE, short for Family, Lifestyles, Actions, and Risk Education.

The children in the study were considered at elevated risk because a parent had been diagnosed with melanoma. The researchers noted that children of melanoma patients have twice the lifetime risk of developing the disease themselves. Biological factors, including skin tone and genetics, can increase sun sensitivity, while environmental influences such as sun-exposure patterns may also be established within the family. Despite this elevated risk, the news release said, young people may engage in tanning and avoid sun-safety practices. The National Cancer Institute identifies sunburn at a younger age as a strong predictor of skin cancer, particularly melanoma.

FLARE was delivered through three telehealth sessions focused on melanoma-risk awareness, ways to implement sun-protection strategies with children and within families, and collaborative parent-child problem-solving about sun-safety barriers with a health educator. The sessions used visual aids and videos to make the information more accessible. The comparison group met with a health educator to receive more general information about melanoma. Researchers found that FLARE improved sun-protective behaviors and was associated with decreased overall sun exposure and damage, supporting the potential value of structured family education. The study did not establish that the program reduced melanoma incidence, and its measured outcomes were behavioral and skin-related rather than long-term cancer outcomes.

Sunburn reduction remained the main outcome the program did not achieve. Although FLARE improved protective behaviors and reduced overall exposure and damage, the rate of sunburn did not decline. Investigator Yelena Wu, a dermatologist and professor at the University of Utah, described reducing sunburn as the “holy grail” for skin-cancer prevention because it is a strong indicator of later skin-cancer risk. The findings therefore show a distinction between improved sun-safety practices and a demonstrated reduction in sunburn, rather than an effect across both outcomes.

The program was developed around the challenge of maintaining preventive behaviors over time. Wu said that skin cancers such as melanoma can be highly preventable, but doing so requires a consistent set of daily health behaviors. Measures identified in the release for reducing ultraviolet exposure include wearing long-sleeved clothing, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats, avoiding outdoor activity during peak exposure hours, and applying and reapplying sunscreen. The study’s telehealth format combined education with family participation, but the continued occurrence of sunburn shows that the intervention did not resolve every aspect of prevention. The results were reported in JAMA Dermatology under the DOI 10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.3877 and were described in an October 19, 2026 news release from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.

Subject of Research: Evaluation of a family-based telehealth program for sun-protective behaviors in children of melanoma patients

Article Title: Protecting young skin: a new approach to melanoma prevention for children

Article References: Protecting young skin: a new approach to melanoma prevention for children. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: melanoma prevention, childhood sunburn, sun protection, family health, telehealth intervention, ultraviolet exposure, skin cancer, behavior change, Huntsman Cancer Institute, melanoma risk, Protecting, young