Person shielding from sun rays with environmental concerns background.

Is Skin Cancer on the Rise? Uncovering Trends and Protecting Your Health

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the shifting landscape of skin cancer, from increasing incidence to surprising risk factors, and learn how to safeguard your well-being."

For years, rising cancer rates in the Malwa belt of Punjab have been a growing concern, sparking investigations into potential environmental causes. While skin cancer might not be the most prevalent form of malignancy, its increasing incidence over recent decades has caught the attention of researchers and healthcare professionals alike.

Skin cancer primarily includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma. BCC and SCC are often grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Although skin cancers are less common worldwide compared to other types of cancer, the progressive increase in their occurrence is a worrying trend.

Worldwide, less than 1% of all diagnosed cancers are skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cutaneous malignancy globally, but studies in India have indicated squamous cell carcinoma as the more prevalent type. Despite the generally lower incidence of skin cancers in India compared to Western countries, the substantial population means that the absolute number of cases is still significant.

What are the Key Trends in Skin Cancer?

Person shielding from sun rays with environmental concerns background.

A recent retrospective study conducted in the Malwa region of Punjab, India, sheds light on the changing profile of skin cancer patients. The study analyzed data from patients who attended a tertiary hospital over one year, examining factors such as age, gender, type of skin cancer, and potential environmental risk factors.

The results revealed that skin cancer constituted 3.18% of all cancer cases registered at the center. The average age of patients was 62 ± 14.2 years, with a wide range from 27 to 92 years. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the most common histological type (54.76%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (36.91%) and malignant melanoma (MM) (8.33%).

Gender Disparity: The study found a male to female ratio of 0.79:1, with BCC showing a higher female preponderance.
Location Matters: Head and neck were the most common sites involved, indicating a potential link to sun exposure.
Rural Connection: A significant majority (88%) of patients came from rural areas, and 92% were directly involved in agriculture, suggesting prolonged exposure to sunlight.

These findings highlight a paradoxically increasing trend of BCC and a female preponderance, with the head and neck being the most common site involved. The strong association with rural areas and agricultural professions points towards potential environmental factors that need further investigation.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

Given the study's findings, several recommendations can be made to mitigate the risk of skin cancer: Promote the provision of safe drinking water. Reduce indiscriminate pesticide use. Implement comprehensive cancer registries that include environmental exposure data. Further research needed to determine the full impact of environmental factors on skin cancer development.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.7860/jcdr/2016/18487.8051, Alternate LINK

Title: Changing Trends Of Skin Cancer: A Tertiary Care Hospital Study In Malwa Region Of Punjab

Subject: Clinical Biochemistry

Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH

Publisher: JCDR Research and Publications

Authors: Sonal Tina Lal

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific types of skin cancer are becoming more common?

While the general term "skin cancer" is used, the specific types that are increasingly being diagnosed include basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma (MM). BCC and SCC are often grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Understanding the specific type is important for appropriate treatment and management. While the trends indicate a general increase in skin cancer incidence, the relative proportions of each type may vary geographically. For example, some studies indicate squamous cell carcinoma as more prevalent, highlighting the importance of local data.

Are there surprising risk factors beyond sun exposure that might contribute to skin cancer, as suggested by the study in Punjab?

The study conducted in the Malwa region of Punjab suggests a strong association between skin cancer and rural areas with most of the cases involved in agriculture. This implies that prolonged exposure to sunlight, possibly combined with other environmental factors like pesticides or contaminated drinking water, may play a significant role. These environmental factors require further investigation to fully understand their impact on skin cancer development. Unlike typical risk factors, the Malwa study highlights a female preponderance which may lead to exploring novel hormonal or occupational exposures.

The study mentions a higher incidence of skin cancer in a specific region of India. Is this trend consistent globally, or are there regional variations?

The trend observed in the Malwa region of Punjab, India, highlights the importance of considering regional variations in skin cancer incidence. While basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy globally, the study in Punjab indicated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as the more prevalent type. This discrepancy suggests that environmental and genetic factors may contribute to regional differences. Furthermore, factors such as access to healthcare and awareness campaigns can also influence reported rates. Comprehensive cancer registries that include environmental exposure data are crucial for understanding these regional patterns.

What practical steps can individuals take, based on the Punjab study, to minimize their risk of developing skin cancer?

Based on the findings of the study in the Malwa region of Punjab, individuals can take several practical steps to minimize their risk of developing skin cancer. These include promoting the provision of safe drinking water to avoid exposure to potential contaminants, reducing indiscriminate pesticide use to limit exposure to harmful chemicals, and implementing comprehensive cancer registries that include environmental exposure data. These measures aim to address the potential environmental factors identified in the study. Regular skin checkups and sun protection measures are also beneficial for early detection and prevention.

How does the gender disparity observed in the study, with a higher female preponderance of BCC, challenge conventional understandings of skin cancer risk, and what further research is needed to explain this?

The study's finding of a higher female preponderance in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) challenges conventional understandings of skin cancer risk, as traditionally, men have been considered at higher risk due to greater sun exposure in certain occupations. This observation suggests that other factors, such as hormonal influences, occupational exposures specific to women in agriculture, or differences in healthcare-seeking behavior, may play a role. Further research is needed to explore these potential factors and determine their contribution to the observed gender disparity. Such research may involve hormonal studies, detailed occupational exposure assessments, and analyses of healthcare access and utilization patterns.