Melanoma Increasing In Young Adults, Especially Women

Gender affects risk for deadly form of skin cancer.

Young women are at a much greater risk for malignant melanoma than young men, according to new study.

The findings are in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.  Researchers looked at patients ages 18 to 39 diagnosed with melanoma.

They found between the years 1970 to 2009, the number of melanoma cases in young men increased four times compared to 8 times in young women.

The findings come as no surprise to Memorial Healthcare System dermatologist Dr. Marianna Blyumin-Karasik.

“Young men they may spend time outdoors but they might not do as much tanning and laying out as the young women. Indoor tanning as well as outdoor tanning increases your risk of melanoma, but it seems women are doing more of the indoor tanning than men,” said Blyum-Karasic.

On campus at Nova Southeastern University, 31-year-old Amy Guimond tried to stay in the shade and avoid the sun.

“When I first started my master's program here two years ago I was diagnosed with a small melanoma,” said Guimond.

She was concerned by what she heard from another student who works at a tanning salon and using the UV beds herself.

“I know that it’s a really touch subject but I feel that tanning in the beds is safer than laying out at the beach,” said 18-year-old Giana Buttacavoli.

For Jessica Hughes who is 24, melanoma is a concern.

“I have melanoma in my family, a family history so I always go to the dermatologist once a year to get everything checked out,” said Hughes.

Even though cases were increasing among young adults, deaths from melanoma decrease the study also revealed.

Contact Us