Women who are diagnosed with melanoma during pregnancy or within 1 year after childbirth should be followed for recurrence, according to a study involving 462 females 49 years old and less. Furthermore, women less than 50 years of age should have their skin checked regularly and conduct self-exams.

All participants had been previously diagnosed with melanoma. Among the results:

• Invasive melanoma was less common in women younger than 20.

• Positive sentinel node status, recurrence rates, metastatic disease, and death rates were greater for women 40 to 49 years of age.

• 41 patients with a pregnancy-associated melanoma were 9 times more likely to have recurrence than nonpregnant patients, as well as a 7-fold increase in metastasis and 5-fold increase in mortality.

Citation: Tellez A, Ruefa S, Conic R, et al. Risk factors and outcomes of cutaneous melanoma in women less than 50 years of age. [Published online ahead of print January 20, 2016]. J Am Acad Dermatol. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.11.014.