The incidence of skin cancers is rapidly increasing. Melanoma in Italy is the second most frequent cancer in males under 50 and the third most frequent in females under 50. In Italy there are more than 1200 new cases of melanoma per year (2019).
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 20-25% of skin cancers. In 2018, about 19,000 new cases of SCC were diagnosed in Italy. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent malignancy and accounts for 15% of all malignancies. The incidence in Italy is about 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (about 60,000 cases per year).
Excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful rays (ultraviolet UV radiation) can cause sunburn, malignant skin cancers, premature skin aging and eye diseases. In particular, overexposure to UV rays during childhood and adolescence is an important factor in determining the future risk of melanoma. Since most skin cancers can be prevented by reducing UV exposure, proper use of sunscreens and protective clothing is of paramount importance.
