Skin cancer occupies a strange place in American health. It is extraordinarily common, often preventable and frequently curable when detected early—yet millions of people require treatment every year, and melanoma still takes thousands of lives.
The phrase “skin cancer” describes several diseases rather than one. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common. Melanoma is less common, but it is more likely to invade nearby tissue and spread to distant organs. Because most cancer registries do not routinely count every basal and squamous cell carcinoma, the true national burden is larger than melanoma statistics alone suggest.
Federal estimates indicate that roughly 6.1 million people are treated for skin cancer in the United States each year, at an annual medical cost approaching $8.9 billion. The American Cancer Society projects about 112,000 new melanomas and 8,510 melanoma deaths in 2026.
What Does “Rising” Really Mean?
Melanoma incidence has increased over the long term in the United States, though trends differ by age, sex, geography and time period. Some of the increase represents genuine disease caused by ultraviolet damage accumulated across a lifetime. Some also reflects greater public awareness, more skin examinations, more biopsies and improved recognition of thin, early melanomas.
Those explanations are not mutually exclusive. Americans are living longer, which gives UV-related mutations more time to accumulate. Many older adults spent decades outdoors before modern sun-protection habits became common. Intermittent intense exposure—such as vacations, outdoor recreation and repeated sunburns—can also contribute to melanoma risk.
Meanwhile, the growth of dermatology screening and digital imaging means physicians may identify lesions that would once have gone unnoticed. This can increase the number of recorded cases while also improving the chance of finding disease before it spreads.
Three Major Forms of Skin Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma often develops on sun-exposed skin and may appear as a pearly bump, a sore that repeatedly heals and returns, or a scar-like patch. It rarely spreads to distant sites, but untreated tumors can damage nearby skin, cartilage and bone.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma may look like a scaly red patch, crusted growth, firm bump or nonhealing sore. Most cases are highly treatable when found early, but some can invade deeply or spread, especially when they occur in high-risk locations or in people with weakened immune systems.
Melanoma
Melanoma begins in pigment-producing melanocytes. It may arise in an existing mole or appear as a new spot. It can also occur on skin that receives little sun, beneath a nail, on the soles of the feet, in the eye or on mucosal surfaces.
The national picture
- Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
- About one in five Americans is estimated to develop skin cancer during a lifetime.
- Approximately 6.1 million Americans receive skin-cancer treatment each year.
- About 112,000 invasive melanomas are projected in 2026.
- About 8,510 melanoma deaths are projected in 2026.
Ultraviolet Radiation Remains the Central Risk
Ultraviolet radiation can damage DNA inside skin cells. The body repairs much of this damage, but repeated exposure can leave mutations behind. Over time, those mutations can allow cells to grow abnormally.
UV radiation comes from the sun and from artificial sources such as tanning beds. A tan is not a sign of health; it is a visible response to skin injury. Indoor tanning delivers concentrated ultraviolet exposure and is a preventable risk factor.
Outdoor exposure is more complicated because it occurs during work, exercise, sports, driving and everyday life. Risk depends on intensity, duration, skin type, geographic location, season and the use of shade, clothing and sunscreen.
Who Is Most at Risk?
People with fair skin, light eyes, red or blond hair, numerous or atypical moles, a personal or family history of skin cancer, repeated sunburns or substantial UV exposure have higher risk. Older age and immune suppression also increase risk.
But skin cancer is not limited to fair-skinned people. Anyone can develop it. In darker skin tones, melanoma may be more likely to appear on the palms, soles or beneath nails, and diagnosis can be delayed when patients or clinicians do not initially suspect skin cancer.
The Warning Signs to Know
The ABCDE guide is a useful way to remember common melanoma warning signs:
- A — Asymmetry: one half does not match the other.
- B — Border: edges are irregular, blurred or notched.
- C — Color: the spot contains several shades or changes color.
- D — Diameter: the lesion is growing or larger than expected, though melanomas can be small.
- E — Evolving: any change in size, shape, color, sensation or behavior.
Dermatologists also use the “ugly duckling” concept: a mole that looks different from the person’s other moles deserves attention. A lesion that bleeds, itches, hurts, crusts or refuses to heal should also be examined.
Why Early Detection Changes the Story
When skin cancer is confined to the surface layers, treatment is often straightforward. As a tumor grows deeper, treatment may become more extensive and the risk of spread can rise.
A dermatologist may examine a suspicious lesion with a dermatoscope, a magnifying device that reveals pigment and vascular patterns. If concern remains, a biopsy removes part or all of the lesion for examination under a microscope.
Photography and digital mole mapping can help monitor people with many atypical moles, but apps and photographs cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. A changing lesion still requires professional assessment.
Treatment Has Advanced
Early basal and squamous cell cancers may be treated with excision, scraping and cautery, freezing, topical medicine, radiation or Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery removes the cancer layer by layer while checking the margins during the procedure, conserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Early melanoma is usually treated surgically. For more advanced melanoma, immunotherapy and targeted medicines have significantly changed outcomes for many patients. These treatments help the immune system recognize cancer or block specific molecular pathways that drive tumor growth.
Progress in treatment is one reason melanoma mortality has improved in recent years even while the number of diagnoses remains substantial. Prevention and early detection, however, remain easier than treating advanced disease.
Prevention That Works in Real Life
Effective sun protection is layered. No single measure is perfect, and sunscreen should not be used to extend time in intense sunlight.
- Seek shade, especially around midday when UV intensity is often highest.
- Wear tightly woven clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses.
- Use broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen on exposed skin and reapply as directed.
- Avoid indoor tanning devices.
- Protect children early; sun habits and UV damage can accumulate across decades.
- Check the skin regularly for new or changing lesions.
People who work outdoors may need workplace changes such as shade structures, protective uniforms and schedules that reduce exposure during peak UV periods.
What Sunscreen Can—and Cannot—Do
Sunscreen reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the skin when enough is applied and reapplied. Most people use less than the amount tested for the labeled SPF, which lowers real-world protection.
Broad-spectrum protection covers both UVA and UVB radiation. Water resistance matters during swimming or heavy sweating, but no sunscreen is truly waterproof. Clothing and shade remain important companions.
People with sensitive skin may prefer mineral filters, while others prefer lightweight chemical formulations. The best sunscreen is one that a person will use generously and consistently.
Who Needs a Professional Skin Examination?
There is no single screening schedule that is right for every adult. A dermatologist may recommend regular full-body examinations for people with a previous skin cancer, many atypical moles, strong family history, immune suppression or substantial past UV exposure.
People without major risk factors should still become familiar with their skin and seek care for concerning changes. Hard-to-see areas—including the scalp, back, ears, soles and spaces between the toes—may require a mirror or help from another person.
Why the Burden May Continue to Grow
The U.S. population is aging, and many cancers become more common with age. The effects of UV exposure also unfold over long periods. A sunburn or tanning habit from decades ago may contribute to a cancer diagnosed today.
Climate and behavior may influence exposure patterns as people spend more time outdoors or experience longer warm seasons, though individual risk remains shaped by protection habits, occupation and geography. At the same time, improved access to dermatology and heightened awareness may uncover more early cancers.
The rise, therefore, is not explained by a single cause. It is the combined result of biology, past behavior, longevity and detection.
Questions to Ask a Dermatologist
- Does this lesion need a biopsy or photographic monitoring?
- How often should I receive a professional skin examination?
- Does my family history change my risk?
- What sun-protection plan fits my work and lifestyle?
- Are any medications increasing my sensitivity to sunlight?
- What changes should prompt an urgent appointment?
A Preventable Burden, but Not a Trivial One
Skin cancer’s growing burden is a reminder that common does not mean harmless. Most cases can be treated successfully, but some cause significant surgery, disfigurement, medical expense or death.
The encouraging part is that people can meaningfully reduce risk. Consistent UV protection, avoidance of tanning beds and attention to changing skin can prevent cancers or catch them when treatment is simplest.
The future of dermatology will bring better imaging, artificial intelligence and more effective therapies. Yet the most powerful tools remain available now: shade, protective clothing, sunscreen and an informed look at one’s own skin.
