Clothing choices could be linked to melanoma skin cancer

Picture a hot summer’s day in the park. You’re surrounded by picnic blankets, children’s games and lazy conversations. The jingle of an ice cream van trickles through the air. But what’s everyone wearing? 

Our latest analysis of UK skin cancer data suggests that the way people dress when they’re in the sun could be influencing where they get melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer.  

Data from 2018 to 2021 shows that 40% of melanomas in men were diagnosed on the torso (the back, chest and stomach) – more than any other part of the body. That translates to around 3,700 cases of skin cancer every year.

In women, the most common area was the lower limbs (from the hips to the feet). More than a third of women’s melanomas were diagnosed here – around 3,200 cases a year.

Think back to that summer scene. We’ve all seen how, as the weather warms up, men can be tempted to go without a shirt, while women tend to switch to shorter shorts and skirts. Although those choices can help you stay cool, they also expose more of your skin to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage the DNA in cells. Over time, that damage can lead to skin cancer. 

In fact, almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma happen because people are exposed to too much UV radiation. That’s why it’s vital to cover up properly and take steps to stay safe while enjoying the sun. 

Melanoma skin cancer is on the rise

Melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, and rates are climbing.   

According to our latest projections, there will be approximately 21,300 cases of melanoma diagnosed this year. That’s a nearly 22% increase from 2023 – and the highest number on record. Since the early 1990s, skin cancer rates have doubled in women and almost tripled in men. 

Some of that rise is linked to the fact people are living longer, as cancer is more common in older age groups. Even so, the latest figures on where men’s and women’s melanomas tend to start are an important reminder of just how much our skin cancer risk can be shaped by our approach to sun safety.

Some of the differences are particularly stark. While the lower limbs and hips were the most common place for melanomas to appear in women (35%), they were the least common place for men (13%). The torso, the most common place for men to develop melanoma (40%), was the second least common place for women (22%). 

Alongside clothing choices, the shapes of our bodies could also be playing a part. Men’s torsos are typically bigger than women’s, and women’s legs take up a larger proportion of their body surface area. Hair, which can differ based on style or genetics, might contribute too: men were almost twice as likely as women to have been diagnosed with melanoma on their head or neck (24% to 13%).

The differences were less pronounced for melanomas diagnosed on the upper limbs or shoulders. These accounted for 27% of cases in women and 20% in men. Around 3% to 4% of melanomas started in unspecified or overlapping sites. 

Fiona Osgun, our head of health information, said: “As the weather gets warmer, it’s really important to look after yourself in the sun. Getting sunburnt just once every couple of years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer compared to never being burnt.”  

“And it’s not just the hot, sunny days you need to watch out for – UV rays can be strong enough to cause skin damage between mid-March and mid-October in the UK, even when it’s cloudy or cool.”  

So, whether you’re having lunch in the garden or setting off for a holiday abroad, practicing sun safety today could help keep you healthy for years to come. 

More people are surviving melanoma

Despite the rise in skin cancer cases, there’s also good news: skin cancer mortality is decreasing. Thanks to improvements we’ve helped make in diagnosing and treating melanoma, survival has doubled over the last 50 years.

Today, 9 in 10 adults diagnosed with melanoma in England will survive the disease for ten years or more.

“Improvements in skin cancer survival rates highlight the remarkable progress driven by our research,” said Michelle Mitchell, our chief executive. “But the growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma is still concerning, especially when we can see that rates are rising faster in men.”