Ireland ranks 14th highest for skin cancer

Ireland has the 14th highest rate of skin cancer in the world, according to a new study.

The results of the Skin Cancer Susceptibility Index show New Zealand has the highest incidence and likelihood of melanoma per capita, followed by Australia, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. The US and the UK are in ninth and 10th place.

The research shows skin cancer is more prevalent in developed countries. Derma.plus, a German organisation that provides dermatological advice from leading physicians, conducted an international study on skin cancer to better understand the geographical and socioeconomic factors that make incidences of the disease more common.

The study is divided into two sections: the Skin Cancer Susceptibility Index analyses the UV factor, the average population skin tone and the rate of incidences from a range of countries to identify geographically where the highest rates of skin cancer are most likely to occur.

The second section, the Socioeconomic Treatment Index, looks at national health spending, access to treatment and individual income against mortality rates to better understand the efforts undertaken worldwide to combat the disease.

A high level of UV exposure, coupled with a lighter skin tone led to a higher diagnosis of skin cancer.

“The incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has increased dramatically over the past decades,” said Prof Dietrick Abeck, chief medical adviser for Derma.plus.

“Worldwide, more than three million non-melanoma skin cancers and 150,000 melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer.”

A spokeswoman for the Irish Cancer Society said Ireland's high ranking was "not surprising".

Burns

“Three in every four people in Ireland have skin types 1 or 2 which mean their skin burns and does not tan or burns before it tans. Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Ireland with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed per year,” the spokeswoman said.

“By 2040 it is estimated that there will be 13,000 females diagnosed and over 20,000 males. This represents an increase of up to 356 per cent in males and up to 234 per cent in females (NCRI, 2014). This is the greatest projected increase of any cancer in Ireland.”

The society warned people to use SPF15 or higher and UVA protection on their skin. “Even on cloudy days as much as 90 per cent of UV rays can reach your skin and cause damage that can lead to skin cancer later in life. In Ireland it is important to protect your skin, in particular from March to October.”