Arizona remains hot spot for skin cancer

PHOENIX — Arizona continues to have the second-highest rate of skin cancer in the world behind only Australia.

Valley dermatologist James Pehoushek said he’s seeing more cases of melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. And he’s seeing it in more younger people than in the past.

“People are getting sun year-round instead of just during the summer months,” he said. “The increased use of tanning beds is a big contributor. Part of the higher numbers could be the earlier detection of the skin cancers.”

And for the spring breakers who will be hitting the beaches soon, and not loading up on sunscreen? Pehoushek said in many cases skin cancers that develop later in life are the product of being exposed to too much sun at a younger age.