Despite years of education campaigns, skin cancer incidence is on the rise. In fact, the number of people diagnosed with a melanoma has doubled over the past 30 years, according to the recently released "Vitals Index Skin Cancer Risk Report."
Treating the roughly one in five Americans who will develop skin cancer is estimated to cost roughly $8.1 billion annually.
Contrary to the country as a whole, some states are making progress in reducing skin cancer rates and attracting more dermatologists.
Vitals used data on dermatologists — including quality rating, number per capita and the change in numbers — as well as skin cancer incidence, overall sunburn rates and race compositions to determine which states had the highest and lowest risk of skin cancer.
"Ironically, residents in states least synonymous with summertime fun…had the highest risk of skin cancer," according to the report. "In contrast, states ranked lowest for risk are often considered beach destinations."
Based on the Vitals' rankings, the states with the lowest risk of skin cancer are:
1. Louisiana
2. Texas
3. Hawaii
4. Rhode Island
5. North Carolina
The states with the highest risk of skin cancer are:
1. Idaho
2. Vermont
3. Washington
4. Utah
5. Maine