Sun exposure is driving rise in most melanoma cases
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Doctors are diagnosing more people with melanoma.
Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers, it's responsible for a large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which pinpoints UV exposure as a major risk factor.
Driving the news: This weekend the city is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors to Lollapalooza in Grant Park, where they'll stand outdoors, potentially in the sun, for hours.
By the numbers: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., with new cases rising 2% to 3% annually from 2015 to 2019, Axios' Tina Reed reports.
- ACS estimates that 100,640 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2024.
- In Cook County, average annual new cases from 2017 to 2021 were 2,566 for males and 2,035 for females.
- Melanoma is the 19th-leading cause of cancer deaths in the state, per the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Between the lines: More sun exposure might not be the only reason for the uptick in melanoma diagnoses.
- "There is definitely more screening because of more awareness, and so we're finding more," Jennifer Choi, a melanoma expert at Northwestern, tells Axios.
The intrigue: Although doctors most commonly diagnose melanoma in white men over 60, Choi says she's recently seen patients as young as 16 with basal cell skin cancer, driven by sun exposure.
- "So conceivably, if they're getting sunburns as a baby, you could see it by [their late teens]," she said.
Be smart: Choi and Illinois Society of Dermatology president Jang Mi Johnson recently shared tips at a Wicker Park SPF awareness event.
- Apply at least a shot glass full of sunscreen every few hours, and don't forget the ears and head.
- Use large wide-brimmed hats, sun protective clothing and sunglasses.
- Talk to your primary care physician (PCP) about any new skin development "that is different, growing, bleeding or changing colors, or a wound that doesn't heal," Johnson says.
- Your PCP can then refer you to a dermatologist for further consultation.
Go deeper: How to pick a "safe" sunscreen