“Get the facts about skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide.

• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
• More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
• Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
• When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.“

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to skin cancer, so make sure you know all the facts.

About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Actinic keratosis is the most common precancer; it affects more than 58 million Americans.  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 1.8 million cases of SCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent.  Incidence rates of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer, increased by 95 percent from 2000 to 2013.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen.  Indoor tanning devices can emit UV radiation in amounts 10 to 15 times higher than the sun at its peak intensity.

The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 billion: about $4.8 billion for nonmelanoma skin cancers and $3.3 billion for melanoma.”

Skin Cancer Foundation
(https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/#general)