Plate Nº 47 · recorded November 15, 2026
Health & Medicine ResearchReported finding
Skin Cancer Rates Climb Faster in Women Across Generations, Study Finds
SCC rates rose 60-94% between women born in 1959 and 1974, versus 8-47% in men, in a study of 30 years of records from Tasmania and six European countries.
By Nathan Brooks3 min read529 words
In brief
- Women born in 1974 had SCC rates 60-94% higher than women born in 1959; men's rise was 8-47%
- Study analyzed 30+ years of cancer records from Tasmania and six European countries
- Rise was steeper among women in five of seven populations studied
- Published in the British Journal of Dermatology by QIMR Berghofer-led researchers
Women born in 1974 have skin cancer rates 60% to 94% higher than women born in 1959, according to a large international study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. The corresponding rise among men was far smaller, between 8% and 47%.
The cancer in question is cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC — the second most common form of skin cancer after melanoma's better-known cousin in public awareness. It starts in cells near the skin's surface and typically shows up on sun-exposed areas: the face, ears, hands and arms.
The findings come from researchers led by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, who analyzed more than 30 years of cancer records from Tasmania and six European countries. It's one of the broader multi-country datasets assembled for this cancer type.
What did the study actually measure?
The team compared people born in different years, adjusting for age and for changes in how doctors diagnose and register cancer over time. That adjustment matters — otherwise, better detection alone could masquerade as a real increase.
Even after those corrections, rates rose across generations in both sexes. But the rise was steeper among women in five of the seven populations studied.
One caveat deserves emphasis: these figures describe differences between birth groups, not any individual woman's personal risk. Men still have higher overall rates of SCC in many of the settings examined. A faster rate of growth doesn't mean women have overtaken men in absolute numbers.
Why is SCC strongly linked to sun exposure?
Unlike melanoma, which has a more complicated relationship with ultraviolet light, SCC tracks closely with the total UV radiation a person accumulates over a lifetime. That damage builds slowly, even when the skin never visibly burns.
The researchers point to shifting patterns of sun exposure as a possible explanation for the gender gap. Outdoor recreation, work habits, clothing choices and attitudes toward tanning have all changed over the decades, potentially increasing how much sunlight reaches women's skin.
How solid are the numbers?
Preliminary in one key respect: the study could not prove that changing sun habits caused the increase. It's an observational pattern, not a demonstrated mechanism.
The researchers also acknowledge that differences in record keeping and medical care across countries may affect reported rates. However, they found that changes in cancer registration did not fully explain the pattern — which strengthens, though it doesn't confirm, a genuine biological trend.
What can readers do with this?
The findings underline the value of protecting skin at every age, not just in childhood. The researchers highlight three practical measures:
- Seeking shade during peak sun hours
- Wearing protective clothing
- Using sunscreen regularly
Because most SCC cases can be treated successfully — usually with surgery — early detection remains important. Some tumors, though, grow deeper or spread to other parts of the body, which is where delayed diagnosis becomes costly.
The bigger picture: SCC receives far less public attention than melanoma, despite being widespread. Better cancer records and sustained prevention efforts, the authors argue, could help researchers understand why its burden keeps growing — and why it's growing fastest among women.
By Nathan Brooks, SciBeat
via knowridge.com (Source)
More from Nathan Brooks
Show full bio
Market editor covering companies, deals and strategy in general science news at SciBeat.
378 articles
Nearby plates
- Age-Based Cancer Genetic Testing Misses 72% of Inherited Variants
- Male and Female Skin Stem Cells Follow Different Rules, Study Finds
- Climate Change Is Already Harming Skin Health, Global Study Finds
- Cancer Rising in Younger Adults, and Obesity Alone Cannot Explain It
- Weak Sunlight Can Damage Skin DNA, Australian Study Finds