ABC News
Study finds number of moles on children's bodies halved in 25 years
Published: 5 March 2026
A study tracking mole development in children has found the number of moles developing on their skin has almost halved in the past 25 years, from an average of 87 in 1992 to 46 in 2016.
Researchers believe the drop could be attributed to reduced sun exposure before the age of 12, driven by the iconic Slip, Slop, Slap public health campaign.
Researchers estimate the drop in mole presence, which is a strong predictor of melanoma, could lead to “a fourfold drop in lifetime melanoma risk”.
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