Minnesota physicians urge Minnesotans to put on their sunscreen, cover up and take precautions to avoid skin cancer

May 28, 2024

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, we are officially in the summer season. Minnesota physicians are urging their fellow Minnesotans to take the summer sun seriously and take precautions to prevent skin cancer.

“Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States,” said MMA President Laurel Ries, MD. “Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen, and we must all take the steps necessary to limit our exposure and decrease the risk of skin cancer.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that each year, about 6.1 million adults are treated for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common types of skin cancer, at a cost of about $8.9 billion. 

According to CDC data in 2020, among all races and ethnicities, the age-adjusted rate of melanomas of the skin in Minnesota was 33.9 per 100,000 people. This rate was only surpassed by Utah. Florida, the Sunshine State, had a rate of only 23.4.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommend taking the following steps to prevent skin cancer:

• Stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10 am and 4 pm
• Cover up with long sleeves, long pants or a long skirt, a hat, and sunglasses
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
• Don’t use indoor tanning machines
• Check your skin for changes regularly

About the Minnesota Medical Association
The Minnesota Medical Association is a non-profit professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. With more than 10,000 members, the MMA is dedicated to being the leading voice of medicine to make Minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.