Minnesota has one of the highest melanoma rates in the country

Doctors are diagnosing more Minnesotans with melanoma than the national average.

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).

Zoom in: Minnesota's rate of new cases — approximately 36 per 100,000 people each year — is the third highest in the nation, per the CDC.

• That's well above the national average of 22.5.

The big picture: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S.​

• New cases of melanoma rose 2% to 3% annually between 2015 and 2019, Axios' Tina Reed reports. Minnesota's stats also show an upward climb.

Driving the trend: While nobody knows exactly why Minnesota's rate is so high, people with lighter complexions and hair colors generally have higher lifetime rates of melanoma, Cindy Firkins Smith, a dermatologist with CentraCare in Willmar, told Axios.

• "If you have fair skin, blue eyes, blond hair, you need to be extra careful, even if you live in the North," she said, noting that the CDC data doesn't adjust for skin type.
• Redheads should also take caution, Smith added.

Plus: "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.

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

• Other factors include more effective skin cancer detection and the fact that many Americans are living longer, according to Shanthi Sivendran, ACS senior vice president of cancer care support.

The bottom line: Using sunscreen is helpful for preventing skin cancer (and wrinkles and skin discoloration), but experts say it shouldn't be the only thing you do.

• Wearing protective clothing — like a hat or UV-blocking shirt — and avoiding being outside in the middle of the day when the sun shines strongest will also make a difference, Smith says.

Go deeper: Skin cancer alert: Melanoma cases are on the rise

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