Melanoma cases are on the rise in California, but stable in SF

San Francisco's rates of melanoma are stable as cases are trending upward both statewide and nationally.

Why it matters: Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers ; however, it's responsible for most skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

By the numbers: California averaged 22.4 melanoma cases per 100,000 people from 2016 to 2020, slightly below the national rate of 22.5, according to the National Cancer Institute .

• San Francisco averaged 19.4 cases, while Alameda County averaged 19.

The intrigue: Marin County continues to be an outlier , averaging 55.9 cases per 100,000 people — the highest rate among California counties.

• Researchers have previously said that Marin County's high rate of cases could be due to its predominantly white population spending more time outdoors and generally having access to good health care — and melanoma screenings — and specialty care.

Zoom out: ​Nationwide, new cases of melanoma rose 2% to 3% annually from 2015 to 2019, Axios' Tina Reed reports .

• In particular, numbers have risen for people over 50 diagnosed with skin cancer, says 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 in the U.S..

What they're saying: "People who get periodically sunburnt frequently tend to have a higher risk of developing melanoma," says Henry Lim, dermatologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit and former president of 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: Better skin cancer detection and the fact that many Americans are living longer, according to Sivendran.

Worthy of your time: Using and reapplying a "safe" sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer and sun damage.

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