Skin cancer

Key messages

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with millions of cases diagnosed each year. It’s also one of the most preventable cancers and highly treatable when found early.

• To reduce your risk of skin cancer, seek shade, wear protective clothing and apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin that clothing won’t cover.

• To detect skin cancer early, when it’s most treatable, perform regular skin self-exams, and see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice new spots on your skin, any spots that look different from the others, or anything changing, itching, or bleeding.

  • To find a board-certified dermatologist, visit aad.org/findaderm.

Supporting message

Bridge to these messages by using phrases like: “It’s important to know,” “I want to emphasize,” “Many may not know,” “Let me share what I’ve been seeing.” Build off these messages by leveraging your expertise about this topic.

• Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of skin color. (1)

  • Skin cancer in patients with darker skin tones is often diagnosed in its later stages, when it’s more difficult to treat. (1-6)

  • White populations have higher rates of melanoma compared to other races. (7,8)

• Excess exposure to UV radiation from sunlight or use of indoor tanning increases the risk for all skin cancer types, as does a personal history of the disease. (7,9)

• Because exposure to UV light is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, the American Academy of Dermatology encourages everyone to stay out of indoor tanning beds and protect their skin from the sun when outdoors.

Stats and facts

• At least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. (10,11)

• It is estimated that approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. (7)

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. (12) Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type and melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. (12)

Detection

• The American Academy of Dermatology encourages everyone to perform regular skin self-exams to check for signs of skin cancer.

  • Regular skin self-exams are important for people who are at higher risk of skin cancer, such as people with a personal and/or family history of skin cancer. (13)

  • About half of melanomas are self-detected. (14-19)

• A dermatologist can make individual recommendations as to how often a person needs a skin exam from a doctor based on individual risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure and family history.

Related Academy resources for the public

References

1. Gupta AK, Bharadwaj M, Mehrotra R. Skin Cancer Concerns in People of Color: Risk Factors and Prevention. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. Dec 1 2016;17(12):5257-5264. doi:10.22034/APJCP.2016.17.12.5257

2. Brunsgaard EK, Jensen J, Grossman D. Melanoma in skin of color: Part II. Racial disparities, role of UV, and interventions for earlier detection. J Am Acad Dermatol. Sep 2023;89(3):459-468. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.057

3. de Vere Hunt I, Owen S, Amuzie A, et al. Qualitative exploration of melanoma awareness in black people in the USA. BMJ Open. Jan 11 2023;13(1):e066967. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066967

4. Brady J, Kashlan R, Ruterbusch J, Farshchian M, Moossavi M. Racial Disparities in Patients with Melanoma: A Multivariate Survival Analysis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021;14:547-550. doi:10.2147/CCID.S311694

5. Agbai ON, Buster K, Sanchez M, et al. Skin cancer and photoprotection in people of color: a review and recommendations for physicians and the public. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 2014;70(4):748-762. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.11.038

6. Zakhem GA, Pulavarty AN, Lester JC, Stevenson ML. Skin cancer in people of color: a systematic review. American journal of clinical dermatology. 2022:1-15.

7. Cancer Facts & Figures 2024. American Cancer Society. Accessed 10/31/2024, https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/2024-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf

8. Key Statistics for Melanoma Skin Cancer. American Cancer Society. Updated 01/17/2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

9. Wehner MR, Shive ML, Chren M-M, Han J, Qureshi AA, Linos E. Indoor tanning and non-melanoma skin cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj. 2012;345

10. Stern RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based model. Arch Dermatol. Mar 2010;146(3):279-82. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2010.4

11. Skin Cancer Awareness Month Reminder: It’s Never Too Early or Too Late to Reduce Your Skin Cancer Risk. Updated 05/01/2024. Accessed 11/11/2024, https://www.skincancer.org/press/skin-cancer-awareness-month-reminder-its-never-too-early-or-too-late-to-reduce-your-skin-cancer-risk/

12. What Are Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers? Accessed 11/11/2024, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/what-is-basal-and-squamous-cell.html#:~:text=Basal%20cell%20carcinoma%20(BCC%2C%20also,lower%20part%20of%20the%20epidermis.

13. How to Do a Skin Self-Exam. American Cancer Society. Updated 06/26/2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/skin-exams.html

14. Aviles-Izquierdo JA, Molina-Lopez I, Rodriguez-Lomba E, Marquez-Rodas I, Suarez-Fernandez R, Lazaro-Ochaita P. Who detects melanoma? Impact of detection patterns on characteristics and prognosis of patients with melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 2016;75(5):967-974. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.009

15. Cheng MY, Moreau JF, McGuire ST, Ho J, Ferris LK. Melanoma depth in patients with an established dermatologist. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 2014;70(5):841-6. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.060

16. Brady MS, Oliveria SA, Christos PJ, et al. Patterns of detection in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Cancer. Jul 15 2000;89(2):342-7. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(20000715)89:2<342::aid-cncr19>3.0.co;2-p

17. Epstein DS, Lange JR, Gruber SB, Mofid M, Koch SE. Is physician detection associated with thinner melanomas? JAMA. Feb 17 1999;281(7):640-3. doi:10.1001/jama.281.7.640

18. Koh HK, Miller DR, Geller AC, Clapp RW, Mercer MB, Lew RA. Who discovers melanoma? Patterns from a population-based survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jun 1992;26(6):914-9. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(92)70132-y

19. Avilés-Izquierdo JA, Molina-López I, Rodríguez-Lomba E, Marquez-Rodas I, Suarez-Fernandez R, Lazaro-Ochaita P. Who detects melanoma? Impact of detection patterns on characteristics and prognosis of patients with melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 2016;75(5):967-974. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.009

Last updated: 12/04/24