Melanoma Rates Soar 17-Fold in Connecticut Since 1950, Sparking Debate on Sun Exposure and Prevention

New Haven, CT – Despite the invention of sunscreen in the 1940s and an increasing amount of time people spend indoors, melanoma incidence rates in Connecticut have surged by nearly 2,000% since 1950, with male rates increasing more than 17-fold and female rates more than nine-fold by 2007. This dramatic rise in skin cancer diagnoses has ignited public discussion, with some questioning the conventional understanding of sun exposure's role.

A recent social media post by "Carnivore Aurelius ©🥩 ☀️🦙" highlighted this paradox, stating, "> so you're telling me sunscreen was invented in the 1940s, people spend 90% of their time indoors today and melanoma rates are up 6 TIMES since then.... definitely the sun causing it." This tweet, while sarcastic, underscores a public curiosity about the underlying causes of the escalating rates. Sunscreen was indeed first developed by Franz Greiter in 1938 and later commercialized by Benjamin Green in 1944.

Data from the Connecticut Tumor Registry, spanning from 1950 to 2007, reveals a significant increase in invasive melanoma cases. In the early 1950s, a diagnosis was rare, with approximately 1.9 cases per 100,000 for men and 2.6 for women. By 2007, these figures had climbed to 33.5 per 100,000 for men and 25.3 for women.

While the tweet's claim of 90% indoor time today is a common assertion, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. The rising incidence of melanoma is a global phenomenon, with Australia, Denmark, and Norway reporting some of the highest age-standardized rates.

Public health experts emphasize that the increase in diagnoses is complex and not solely attributable to sun exposure or sunscreen use. Factors such as improved detection methods, increased awareness leading to more screenings, and changes in recreational sun exposure patterns over decades are believed to contribute to the observed trends. The DW fact-checking team recently debunked claims that sunscreen itself increases cancer risk, citing the scientific consensus that sunscreen is safe and effective in preventing skin cancer.