It accounts for 30 to 40 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers, and the rate of malignant melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, is growing rapidly. Increased leisure time also has given Americans more recreational exposure to sunlight than previous generations experienced.
Some people even prolong the tanning season into the non-summer months by visiting tanning salons.
Finally, depletion of the earth's ozone layer may be allowing more harmful ultraviolet light from the sun to pass through to the earth's surface. People with fair complexions, light hair and a tendency to burn instead of tan face the greatest risk of developing skin cancer. Nonetheless, regardless of skin complexion, everyone is susceptible. Ninety-five percent of the sunlight reaching the earth's surface is ultraviolet A radiation. The remainder is ultraviolet B radiation.