Sun protection and skin cancer prevention — branching viva

Opening (2 minutes)

Examiner: "What is your overall approach to sun protection for this child?" [1]

Strong answer: Enable outdoor life with layered protection — shade, timing, clothing/hat, sunglasses, then broad-spectrum sunscreen with enough product and reapplication. Do not rely on brand name alone. [1] [4]

Branch A — Why childhood?

Examiner: "Why emphasise childhood exposure?" [7]

Strong answer: High childhood UV environments are a strong determinant of later melanoma risk; intermittent intense exposure and sunburn history matter in epidemiologic syntheses. Habits also form early. [7] [1]

Branch B — Indoor tanning

Examiner: "They ask about one tanning-bed session before the formal." [3] [9]

Strong answer: No safe paediatric use. Indoor tanning associates with higher melanoma odds; more sessions worse; newer beds not shown safe. Offer non-UV appearance alternatives; be clear and non-shaming. [3] [9]

Branch C — Vitamin D

Examiner: "Won't covering up cause rickets?" [1]

Strong answer: Optimise vitamin D with diet/supplements when indicated. Do not prescribe intentional unprotected tanning. Photoprotection and nutritional adequacy are not mutually exclusive. [1] [2]

Branch D — High-risk features

Examiner: "What would make you escalate?" [2] [4]

Strong answer: Extreme photosensitivity, albinism/XP pathway, immunosuppression, suspicious changing lesion, repeated severe burns with unsafe supervision — dermatology/ophthalmology and stricter plans. [2] [4]

Close

Summarise a concrete holiday plan with teach-back and document counselling. [3]