Special Report

States With the Most Skin Cancer

Steven Peters

Published: July 30, 2016 9:05 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 5:07 am

An estimated one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Diagnosis rates of melanoma — one of the most common and deadly forms of skin cancer — doubled in the United States between 1982 and 2011. Meanwhile, skin cancer treatment cost Americans $8.1 billion a year from 2007 to 2011, more than twice the annual cost in the previous five years.

While melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma account for the vast majority of skin cancer diagnoses. If detected early and treated properly, both types are highly curable.

The much less common melanoma is a more aggressive form of skin cancer, accounting for about three out of every four skin cancer deaths. Melanoma is expected to account for 76,000 cases of skin cancer, and 10,000 deaths in 2016.

Click here to see the states with the most skin cancer.

The incidence of melanoma varies among states. To determine which states have the highest rates of melanoma, 24/7 reviewed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas has the lowest rate in the country with 12 cases of melanoma for every 100,000 residents annually. The rate in Utah is more than three times higher, at 37.3 melanoma diagnoses for every 100,000 people — the highest of any state.

Many factors contribute to a state’s melanoma rate. Because more than 90% of melanoma cases are diagnosed in non-Hispanic whites, states with larger shares of light-skinned residents tend to report a greater incidence of melanoma. Nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of melanoma have populations with higher proportions of white residents than the nation as a whole. This is true for only four of the 10 states with the lowest rates of melanoma.

Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun, particularly to the point of sunburn, increases the risk of melanoma. Sunny, Southern states do not have higher rates of melanoma, however. The difference between states may be caused more by how residents protect themselves from the sun, rather than how much time they spend in the sunlight. For example, residents living in cloudier areas may not use sunscreen as much as a resident living in sunny areas, even though the majority of the ultraviolet radiation penetrates the clouds.

To identify the states with the highest rates of skin cancer, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed melanoma diagnosis and death rates per 100,000 people from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Figures are for 2013, the most current available. Percentages of state populations who are white came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey. Nevada was excluded from the list because melanoma rates were not available.

These are the states with the highest rates of melanoma.

Source: Thinkstock

49. Texas
> Melanoma diagnoses: 12.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 75% (19th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

48. New Mexico
> Melanoma diagnoses: 13.5 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.4 per 100,000 (tied-15th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 73% (17th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

47. Alaska
> Melanoma diagnoses: 14.8 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: N/A
> Pct. pop. white: 66% (9th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

46. Indiana
> Melanoma diagnoses: 16.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 84% (18th highest)

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45. Louisiana
> Melanoma diagnoses: 16.6 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.3 per 100,000 (tied-11th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 63% (7th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

44. Mississippi
> Melanoma diagnoses: 17.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.0 per 100,000 (4th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 59% (4th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

43. Illinois
> Melanoma diagnoses: 17.8 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 73% (16th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

42. Missouri
> Melanoma diagnoses: 18.2 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.0 per 100,000 (tied-11th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 83% (20th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

41. Alabama
> Melanoma diagnoses: 18.6 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 69% (12th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

40. Michigan
> Melanoma diagnoses: 18.7 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.5 per 100,000 (tied-18th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 79% (25th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

39. Arizona
> Melanoma diagnoses: 18.8 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.0 per 100,000 (tied-11th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 79% (25th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

38. Oklahoma
> Melanoma diagnoses: 18.9 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 73% (18th lowest)

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37. New York
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 65% (8th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

36. West Virginia
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.6 per 100,000 (2nd highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 94% (4th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

35. Massachusetts
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.0 per 100,000 (tied-11th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 80% (24th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

34. Hawaii
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 1.6 per 100,000 (3rd lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 25% (2nd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

33. Ohio
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.5 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.8 per 100,000 (tied-17th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 83% (21st highest)

Source: Thinkstock

32. Tennessee
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.9 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.3 per 100,000 (7th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 78% (22nd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

31. Connecticut
> Melanoma diagnoses: 19.9 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 78% (21st lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

30. Wyoming
> Melanoma diagnoses: 20.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.5 per 100,000 (tied-18th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 91% (7th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

29. Arkansas
> Melanoma diagnoses: 20.1 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 78% (24th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

28. Virginia
> Melanoma diagnoses: 20.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.8 per 100,000 (tied-17th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 69% (13th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

27. Colorado
> Melanoma diagnoses: 20.7 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 84% (19th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

26. Wisconsin
> Melanoma diagnoses: 21.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.4 per 100,000 (tied-15th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 87% (13th highest)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

25. South Dakota
> Melanoma diagnoses: 21.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.1 per 100,000 (5th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 85% (14th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

24. California
> Melanoma diagnoses: 21.8 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.3 per 100,000 (tied-11th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 62% (6th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

23. North Dakota
> Melanoma diagnoses: 22.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.6 per 100,000 (tied-21st lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 89% (9th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

22. South Carolina
> Melanoma diagnoses: 22.2 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.0 per 100,000 (tied-11th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 67% (10th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

21. Maryland
> Melanoma diagnoses: 22.2 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.6 per 100,000 (tied-21st lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 58% (3rd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

20. New Jersey
> Melanoma diagnoses: 22.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.4 per 100,000 (tied-15th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 69% (11th lowest)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

19. Florida
> Melanoma diagnoses: 22.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.9 per 100,000 (16th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 76% (20th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

18. Kansas
> Melanoma diagnoses: 23.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.4 per 100,000 (tied-4th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 85% (15th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

17. Nebraska
> Melanoma diagnoses: 23.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.4 per 100,000 (tied-4th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 88% (10th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

16. Rhode Island
> Melanoma diagnoses: 23.2 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.4 per 100,000 (tied-15th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 81% (23rd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

15. North Carolina
> Melanoma diagnoses: 23.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 70% (14th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

14. Kentucky
> Melanoma diagnoses: 24.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.4 per 100,000 (tied-4th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 88% (12th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

13. Pennsylvania
> Melanoma diagnoses: 24.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.8 per 100,000 (tied-17th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 82% (22nd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

12. Maine
> Melanoma diagnoses: 24.7 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.2 per 100,000 (tied-8th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 95% (2nd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

11. Georgia
> Melanoma diagnoses: 24.9 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 60% (5th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

10. Washington
> Melanoma diagnoses: 25.7 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 78% (23rd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

9. Montana
> Melanoma diagnoses: 25.9 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.5 per 100,000 (tied-18th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 89% (8th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

8. Idaho
> Melanoma diagnoses: 26.1 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.7 per 100,000 (the highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 92% (5th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

7. New Hampshire
> Melanoma diagnoses: 26.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 94% (3rd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

6. Iowa
> Melanoma diagnoses: 26.6 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.8 per 100,000 (tied-17th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 91% (6th highest)

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5. Minnesota
> Melanoma diagnoses: 27.8 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.7 per 100,000 (tied-21st highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 85% (16th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

4. Oregon
> Melanoma diagnoses: 28.4 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.0 per 100,000 (tied-11th highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 85% (17th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

3. Delaware
> Melanoma diagnoses: 30.0 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.6 per 100,000 (tied-21st lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 70% (15th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

2. Vermont
> Melanoma diagnoses: 32.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 2.3 per 100,000 (tied-11th lowest)
> Pct. pop. white: 95% (the highest)

Source: Thinkstock

1. Utah
> Melanoma diagnoses: 37.3 per 100,000
> Melanoma deaths: 3.5 per 100,000 (3rd highest)
> Pct. pop. white: 88% (11th highest)