Men’s skin cancer knowledge lags behind women’s, according to AAD

According to a 2016 American Academy of Dermatology survey, only 56% of men know that there’s no such thing as a healthy tan, compared to 76% of women. Just 54% of men know that getting a base tan is not a healthy way to protect your skin from the sun, compared to 70% of women. Only 56% of men know that skin cancer can occur on areas of the skin not typically exposed to the sun, compared to 65% of women. “It’s important for both men and women to protect their skin from harmful ultraviolet rays and regularly examine their entire body, including hard-to-see areas, for signs of skin cancer,” says board-certified dermatologist Abel Torres, MD, JD, FAAD, president of the AAD. “While our survey results indicate that men don’t know as much about skin cancer prevention and detection as women, men over 50 have a higher risk of developing melanoma, so it’s especially important for them to be vigilant about protecting and monitoring their skin.”