Shocking Skin Cancer Stats for Men

The summer sun is out in full force and while women are soaking in sunscreens, men seem to be in the dark when it comes to proper sun protection. According to a recent survey released from The Skin Cancer Foundation, in partnership with Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, nearly half of guys in the U.S. had not used sunscreen in the past 12 months vs. 29% of women!

Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center and spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation, revealed that 6,060 men in the US would die this year from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In fact, 61% mistakenly believe that one sunscreen application is sufficient for four hours instead of using a golf ball size amount every two hours or after heavy sweating or swimming.
“The survey found that nearly two-thirds of men believe or are unsure if women need more sunscreen than they do, because of their misconception that female skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation from the sun,” Dr. Zeichner explained.
If guys lack knowledge on the importance of sunscreen, it easily lends to them not knowing about skin cancer. A staggering 70% don’t know how to perform a skin cancer self-exam or what to look for. Only one in four men realized that their back and chests were the most vulnerable to skin cancer, and Dr. Zeichner advised adults to keep a check on mysterious moles and lesions that show up on their skin.
“Everyone over the age of 18 should see a dermatologist annually for a full-body exam,” he said. “The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends that everyone examine their skin from head-to-toe at least once a month, so that they can find any new or changing lesions that might be cancerous or precancerous. A yearly skin exam performed by a physician is important, but it’s just as important to see a professional whenever you see a mole changing or growing.”
For more information, please visit SkinCancer.org.