Mapped: Melanoma cases rising in Georgia

Georgia's doctors are diagnosing people with melanoma at higher rates than the national average, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers , it's responsible for the large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

By the numbers: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S.

• ​New cases of melanoma rose 2–3% annually from 2015 to 2019, Axios' Tina Reed reports.
• In particular, numbers have risen for people older than 50 diagnosed with skin cancer, says Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, ACS senior vice president of cancer care support.
• ACS estimates that about 100,640 new cases of melanoma skin cancer will be diagnosed in 2024.

Zoom in: In Georgia, the annual rate of new melanoma cases is 25.1 per 100,000 people. The average rate is 22.5 nationally.

What they're saying: "People who get periodically sunburnt frequently tend to have a higher risk of developing melanoma," says Henry Lim, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit and former president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

• And sun exposure has a clear connection to basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.

Yes, but: "More sun exposure" isn't the only possible reason for the uptick in melanoma diagnoses.

• Other factors: More effective skin cancer detection and because many Americans are living longer, according to Sivendran.

Using sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, and also wrinkles and skin discoloration.

• More tips for avoiding sun damage: stay in the shade, wear hats and other protective clothing while in the sun, and use sunscreen , and reapply it.

Go deeper: How to pick a "safe" sunscreen.