White skin cancer on the rise
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More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.In recent years, the number of new cases with white skin cancer has increased dramatically, especially among women - at least in the United States. And today it occurs on different parts of the body than before.
Sun protection is important. Because this not only slows down the aging processes of the skin - UV radiation has been proven to be carcinogenic. This also applies to the ultraviolet light components in solariums.
The two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, are primarily caused by UV damage to the skin. Both are counted as white skin cancer. This is not fully recorded in the international cancer registry.
Christian Baum and his colleagues from the Rochester Epidemiology Project in Minnesota and Wisconsin therefore examined how the number of new cases has developed over the past 35 years. The scientists compared three periods: 1976 to 1984, 1985 to 1992 and 2000 to 2010. In total, health data from more than 144,000 people were included in their calculations.
250 percent more new cases
Between the first and the last study period, the number of basal cell carcinomas increased by 145 percent. Most notably among women between 40 and 49 years of age - here the number of new cases even increased by 250 percent.
The number of squamous cell carcinomas increased even more over the study period: by 263 percent. In this form of skin cancer, too, the researchers recorded a greater increase in women than in men, especially in the age groups between 40 and 59 and 70 and 79 years.
Dangerous tan
"Although it has been known for 50 years that UV radiation is harmful, there was a trend towards tanning beds in the 1980s," said Baum, who led the study. In white skin cancer, it takes 20 years from photodamage to the onset of skin cancer precursors. The fact that tanning was “in” and still is in some cases could be the reason for the growing number of skin cancer cases. The study shows how important it is to adequately protect the skin from sunlight. Damage to the genetic material occurs even before you see a sunburn - and this increases the risk of tumors.
Migration from head to body
The scientists also found that the tumors developed in different parts of the body in the 2000s as they did before. While they used to be found mainly on the head and neck, in the third study period they occurred more frequently on the body (basal cell carcinoma) or on the arms and legs (squamous cell carcinoma).
Baum and his colleagues do not yet know exactly why skin cancer has migrated over the past few decades. Increased exposure of the body and extremities to the sun is an obvious reason. Regular vacations could play a role here, says Baum.
Prevention with sun protection
The various forms of white skin cancer rarely metastasize. Therefore, they can usually be removed surgically. People with lighter skin types I or II are particularly affected. To prevent white skin cancer, protect your skin from direct sunlight, for example with clothing and sunscreen with a sufficient sun protection factor.
Sources:
Christian L. Baum et al .: Incidence and Trends of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017; DOI: 10.1016 / j.mayocp.2017.02.015
Cancer information service: Ultraviolet radiation as a cancer risk, accessed on: May 16, 2017
Hans-Martin Hübner: White skin cancer and melanoma - current overview, February 2016.
