How Likely It Is You'll Get Skin Cancer In Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, MD — May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a new report suggests some states aren't nearly as concerned about sun damage as they should be, given their rates of melanoma. Fortunately, Maryland does not appear to be one of them.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the country. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common types, though both are highly curable. Melanoma is the third most prevalent, but also the most deadly, killing 9,000 Americans in 2015 alone, the most recent year data was available.

Skin cancer is caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet rays, whether it's from sunlight or tanning beds. These rays penetrate and alter skin cells.

According to the folks at Advanced Dermatology in Illinois, Marylanders are appropriately concerned about skin cancer. The skin doctors analyzed Google trends data and local skin cancer rates from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rank every state based on whether they're appropriately concerned, with No. 1 representing extremely concerned.

Here's what the report found for Maryland:

• Skin cancer rate: High
• Interest in prevention: Very High

In Maryland, there were 7,279 new cases of skin melanomas between 2011 and 2015 and 749people died from the cancer.

Montgomery County, with an age-adjusted melanoma rate of 18.6 percent per 100,000 people.

Here are the 10 counties in the state most likely to get melanoma. The results include rate, case count, and population.

1. Worcester County, 43.2 per 100,000 people, 167 cases, population of 257,197
2. Queen Anne's County, 41.8 per 100,000 people, 128 cases, population of 242,960
3. Harford County, 34.8 per 100,000 people, 486 cases, population of 1,244,552
4. Anne Arundel County, 33.2 per 100,000 people, 1,002 cases, population of 2,775,358
5. Carroll County, 33.2 per 100,000 people, 313 cases, population of 837,256
6. Talbot County, 31.5 per 100,000 people, 85 cases, population of 189,034
7. Calvert County, 31.3 per 100,000 people, 149 cases, population of 450,674
8. Cecil County, 31.0 per 100,000 people, 174 cases, population of 509,905
9. St. Mary's County, 30.1 per 100,000 people, 166 cases, population of 548,570
10. Wicomico County, 29.9 per 100,000 people, 163 cases, population of 505,169

Utah saw the highest rate of skin cancer of any state at 38.3 new cases per 100,000 people. Vermont, Delaware, Minnesota and New Hampshire rounded out the top five. Conversely, Washington, D.C. saw the lowest rate with a rate of 9 new cases per 100,000 people, followed by Texas, Alaska, Nevada, and New Mexico.

While some people may think they look good with a tan, it doesn't indicate good health. In fact, it means quite the opposite.

"A tan is your skin's response to injury, because skin cells signal that they have been hurt by UV rays by producing more pigment," the CDC wrote on its website. "Any change in skin color after UV exposure (whether it is a tan or a burn) is a sign of injury, not health."

Over time, too much exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancers and even cataracts and cancers of the eye.

"Every time you tan, you increase your risk of getting skin cancer," the CDC said.

To reduce the risk of skin cancer, health officials recommend staying in the shade, covering arms and legs, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Also avoid indoor tanning altogether.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.