Skin cancer is on the rise, despite public education, advances in preventive screening, and more effective sun protection products. In fact, skin cancer cases among U.S. patients more than tripled from 1975 to 2021.¹ Industry studies suggest that climate change, air pollution, and more intensive ultraviolet (UV) radiation may be factors, as well as changing attitudes about tanning and sun exposure among younger patients.²

Adults over age 50 are at risk due to aging and cumulative lifetime sun exposure. Meanwhile, skin cancer rates among younger adults, ranging in age from 20 to 30, are rising due to earlier UV exposure, lack of sun protection, and the use of tanning beds for cosmetic reasons — a trend known as “tanmaxxing.”³

Skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, is also associated with an increased risk of developing other cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Consider these statistics:

• In 2026, over 234,000 new cases of skin cancer are projected to be diagnosed in the United States.⁴
• More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined.⁴
• Actinic keratosis is the most common precancer, affecting 58 million U.S. adults.⁴
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer. However, when detected early, the survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.⁴
• Invasive melanoma rates have increased by 46.6 percent over the past decade. Diagnoses are rising for adults over 50 (up to 2.8 percent annually).⁵
• Skin cancer rates have surged over the last three decades among U.S. patients over age 65, driven by keratinocyte cancers.⁶

Screening and early detection

Skin cancer can be treated more successfully if it is caught early. Skin cancer screening is recommended for adults with higher-than-average risk due to atypical moles, increased occupational or recreational exposure to UV radiation, or familial atypical multiple mole and melanoma.

The relationship between skin cancer and other cancers illustrates the importance of comprehensive monitoring and preventive strategies. A patient’s history of skin cancer can be predictive of overall cancer risk, highlighting the value of early detection and intervention for comorbid cancers.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend for or against routine skin cancer screening for adults at normal risk, but individuals at risk may benefit from regular skin exams. This includes patients with atypical moles, increased occupational or recreational exposure to UV radiation, or familial atypical multiple mode and melanoma (FAMM) exposure, which is an inherited tendency to develop melanoma.

Learn more  

Our Cigna Healthcare^®  Preventive Care Services (A004) administrative policy includes information on screenings that are covered as part of preventive care.

Your patients can find in-network providers by logging in to myCigna.com^® or the myCigna^® App. Patients should consult their plan details for coverage specifics, including frequency, copays and referral requirements.⁷ For more information on the value of early detection and screening for skin cancer and other cancers, read this article: Preventive care saves lives and providers play a vital role in making that happen.

1. Bridget Balch. “Skin cancer is on the rise. Could climate change be to blame?” Association of American Medical Colleges. 07 May 2026. Retrieved from https://www.aamc.org/news/skin-cancer-rise-could-climate-change-be-blame.

2. Harrison Zhu, et al. “Adolescent tanning perceptions and resistance to prevention: Insights from a skin cancer education program.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. December 2025. Retrieved from https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(25)02690-8/abstract.

3. Comprehensive Hematology Oncology. “Why Young Adults Are Facing Higher Skin Cancer Risk.” Comprehensive Hematology Oncology. 13 May 2025. Retrieved from https://comphemonc.com/2025/05/13/why-young-adults-are-facing-higher-skin-cancer-risk/.

4. Skin Cancer Foundation. “Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics.” Skin Cancer Foundation. March 2026. Retrieved from https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/.

5. Joan Levy. “Over 112,000 Americans Estimated to Be Diagnosed with Invasive Melanoma in 2026.” Melanoma Research Alliance. 23 January 2026. Retrieved from https://www.curemelanoma.org/blog/over-112-000-americans-estimated-to-be-diagnosed-with-invasive-melanoma-in-2026.

6. Giuliana Grossi. “Global Skin Cancer Burden Among Older Adults Surged Since 1990, Driven by Keratinocyte Cancer.” American Journal of Managed Care. 21 May 2025. Retrieved from https://www.ajmc.com/view/global-skin-cancer-burden-among-older-adults-surged-since-1990-driven-by-keratinocyte-cancer.

7. Coverage may vary. Your patients can call Cigna Healthcare at 800.790.3086 for plan-specific guidance on coverage, referrals, and in-network dermatologists.