As you age, it is important to take care of your skin. Here are frequently asked questions about skin cancer in Idaho.

Is the sun lethal in Idaho?

Rates of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, have steadily risen in Idaho since the mid-1970s and wee the  sixth-highest in the nation in 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available. The rate in 2005 was 26.3 cases for every 100,000 people.  New melanoma diagnoses increased at a rate of about 3.6 percent each year since 1975. Idaho has remained in the top five since, according to state officials. About 40 people each year in Idaho die of melanoma.

Why are our rates so high?

Nobody knows for sure, but here are some theories from Dr. James Stewart, a Treasure Valley dermatologist, and Patti Moran, comprehensive cancer control program manager for the state of Idaho.

•  Doctors are more scarce in rural Idaho than in the Treasure Valley and other urban hubs. People in rural areas see doctors less often.

•  Idaho’s mild climate means we spend lots of time outdoors. Some evidence indicates that the intermittent exposure of damaging rays to weekend mountain bikers or kayakers may be more damaging than ongoing exposure like what ranchers or farmers get.

•   Idaho has a higher proportion of Caucasians, who burn more easily and are more likely to have a family history of melanoma.

•   Why you should care about sun damage:

If cancer isn’t enough to persuade you to protect yourself, think about your aging face. The skin on your face would look as smooth as the skin on your posterior if your face had the same amount of shade you give your rear end.

•  A tan is not protection against the sun’s rays or a sign of good health. It is the visible damage you have done to your skin.