But, experts say, even that is difficult. With few current statistics on non-melanoma cases of skin cancer, which are 18 times more common than melanomas, health officials are hard pressed to determine whether there is a skin cancer epidemic, much less address it. Recently, reporting has gotten better. Studies have come out suggesting that, in reality, there will be 1 million non-melanoma skin cancers this year. So it may look as though there's a large increase, but part of that is the result of better reporting.
Studies show that skin cancer incidence rates are up.
Ten or 20 years ago, people spent more time in the sun. Many of the people who got their sun in the 1970s and 1980s will develop cancer eventually. Unfortunately, there is some anecdotal evidence that sun exposure is having its effects on people earlier in life. Robins reports that the average age of his patients has dropped by seven years, from about 70 in 1965 to the current average age of 63. The younger people who are getting skin cancers commonly have been to tanning beds or have been lifeguards.