SALT LAKE CITY – Utah has the highest rate of melanoma in the country, according to the National Cancer Institute. The agency reports that the incidence rate for cutaneous melanoma in Utah was 40.8 cases per 100,000 residents between 2016 and 2020.

During the same period, the United States averaged 22.5 cases of melanoma per 100,000 residents, making Utah's melanoma rate almost twice as high as the rest of the country.

Dr. Dekker Deacon, a dermatologist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, said there are several reasons for the higher number of melanomas in Utah.

“We are a state that is higher than the other states, [we’re at] at the top of the list,” said Deacon. “Many people spend a lot of time outdoors and relax there.”

However, he said there is one main reason for the high numbers in Utah.

“The most important thing when looking at the states with the most incidents [of melanoma] “There would be a predominantly white population across the country,” Deacon said.

Skin tone and skin cancer

Additionally, according to the American Cancer Society, people with “fair skin, red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes, or skin that freckles or burns easily are at increased risk.”

However, that doesn't mean that people with other skin tones are less prone to skin cancer. The Melanoma Research Alliance reports that “cutaneous melanoma, the most common type, is caused by cell damage from ultraviolet sunlight” and that “people with dark skin are far less likely to develop this type of melanoma than their white counterparts.”

“Even people with dark skin still develop melanomas caused by UV light,” the Melanoma Research Alliance continues. “They are also at risk for developing rare melanoma subtypes that are not caused by the sun, such as acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma.”

Protect your skin from skin cancer

The best protection against melanoma is wearing clothing that covers the skin. Deacon cites truck drivers as an example.

“In patients who have been truck drivers for many years, skin cancer occurs much more frequently on the left side of the face than on the right. This is related to the ultraviolet radiation that penetrates through the truck window.”

Sunscreens with a high sun protection factor are the second best protection against skin cancer

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