It’s no surprise that Hawaii is one of them…but you may raise your eyebrows at some.
Sunlight and the seashore: the two go hand in hand. And therefore, you might assume that skin cancer would be high on the list in these areas. Is it? Yes, having a beautiful coastline nearby can increase the rate of skin cancer in your state, but it’s not the only factor that should cause concern.
People living in landlocked areas can also get skin cancer at higher rates.
In a recent study, it was found that states with a high UV index such as Hawaii, Florida and California have higher rates of UV-attributable melanoma skin cancer, but so do others with relatively low UV scores.
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Landlocked areas such as Minnesota and Idaho, while having a low UV index, have higher rates of UV-related melanoma. Utah and Vermont do as well. Why? It’s not entirely known. Researchers say it could be due to people engaging in more outdoor sports and farming in these states. Indoor tanning among teenage girls could also be a problem that colder areas face.
What’s the solution? Slap on some sunscreen regularly and wear clothing that covers. Winter is still here but warmer weather is just around the corner. (Those rays can be strikingly strong on the ski slopes as well on a sunny day as well, and so keeping some sun protection handy year-round also isn’t a crazy idea).
Stay sun safe.
