How Likely It Is To Get Skin Cancer In Alexandria

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 it does not appear to be a problem in Virginia.

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 research from Advanced Dermatology, Virginians are extremely 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 Virginia:

• Skin cancer rate: Very low
• Interest in prevention: Very high

In Virginia, there were 8,506 new cases of skin melanomas between 2011 and 2015 and 1,184 people who died from the cancer. Alexandria had an age-adjusted melanoma rate of 14.2 per 100,000 people, which was in the bottom half of Virginia counties for rates of new melanoma cases. There were 101 new cases of skin melanomas in Alexandria from 2011 to 2015.

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

1. Poquoson City: 44.9 per 100,000 people, 32 cases, population of 60,362
2. Roanoke County: 39.4 per 100,000 people, 235 cases, population of 467,201
3. Rockbridge County: 38.8 per 100,000 people, 60 cases, population of 112,401
4. James City County: 38.2 per 100,000 people, 209 cases, population of 353,296
5. Augusta County: 36.5 per 100,000 people, 178 cases, population of 370,496
6. Northumberland County: 34.3 per 100,000 people, 38 cases, population of 61,558
7. Rockingham County: 32.7 per 100,000 people, 162 cases, population of 389,516
8. Accomack County: 32.6 per 100,000 people, 74 cases, population of 165,647
9. Gloucester County: 32.5 per 100,000 people, 80 cases, population of 184,797
10. Virginia Beach City: 32.2 per 100,000 people, 731 cases, population of 2,238,947

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

“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.”

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.