dr. bernard cohen is the director of pediatric dermtelling at the johns hopkins -- dermatology at the johnsopkins center in baltimore. ten years ago he never saw skin cancer in a child. now he sees a few cases a year. >> commensurate with the adult epidemic in skin cancer, children not far behind. clearly, people are getting more sun exposure. and kids are getting tons of sun exposure, particularly early in life. >> reporter: dr. cohen says it's not just melanoma that's on the rise, he's seeing more incidents of less serious basal and squ m squaumous cell cancer, as well. he believes genetics and more exposure to ultraviolet light are factors. >> i think some of the problem in children under the age of 12 is that we don't understand what it means for them lifelong. >> reporter: for example, the chance of recurrence after a melanoma be as high as 50%. but dr. cohen worries that in a child who has years and years left to live, that chance could be much higher. that's why melissa says she's constantly checking all of her children's skin. >> so many people don't think kids are going to get skin