Where to Check for Skin Cancer, Based on Your Gender

We’ve all heard about the differences in how men and women think, communicate and even shop.

But is the most common location of skin cancer yet another area where gender matters?

We asked Jill Rubinstein, MD, PhD, surgical oncologist with the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, to break it down.

Skin cancer locations vary by gender.

For men, skin cancer is more commonly found on the:

• Torso, both front and back
• Scalp

Women, on the other hand, are more likely to experience skin cancer on:

• Lower legs

UV exposure differences may be partly to blame.

One reason for the difference in skin cancer location may be UV exposure patterns. For example, men have more skin exposed on their torsos while swimming or doing outdoor activities. And shorter hair and bald heads may attribute to melanomas on the scalp.

“Patterns of UV exposure almost certainly contribute, but may not explain entirely, the gender difference,” says Dr. Rubinstein. Even parts of your body that aren’t exposed to UV are at risk. Read more