The 10 Worst Cities For Skin Health

With the month of May dedicated to skin cancer awareness, new research brings to light more cases of skin cancer being diagnosed than breast, colon, lung, and prostrate cancers combined.

The latest report from The American Cancer Society indicated that more than five million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annual — with more than 76,000 incidences of invasive melanoma in 2016 alone.

While experts often lament skin cancer is a disease preventable by limiting one’s exposure to tanning beds and the sun, there are man-made things that aggressively affect the skin: stress, pollution, tobacco use, and poor diet.

To identify the regions where protecting one’s skin is an everyday battle, analysts from Wallethub.com compared the 150 largest US cities across 17 metrics. The data ranges from “melanoma incidence rate per 100,000 residents” to “Ultraviolet index” to “cost of a non-invasive dermatological procedure.”

The following highlights the 10 worst US cities for skin care along with their rank among four broad categories:

· Skin cancer prevalence and contributors

· Pollution and smoking

· Climate

· Skin health and care

10. Oxnard, CA

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 129

Pollution and smoking rank: 75

Climate rank: 4

Skin health and care rank: 140

9. Amarillo, TX

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 133

Pollution and smoking rank: 64

Climate rank: 114

Skin health and care rank: 94

8. Chattanooga, TN

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 134

Pollution and smoking rank: 78

Climate rank: 89

Skin health and care rank: 46

7. Toledo, OH

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 95

Pollution and smoking rank: 140

Climate rank: 130

Skin health and care rank: 121

6. Spokane, WA

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 148

Pollution and smoking rank: 73

Climate rank: 93

Skin health and care rank: 16

5. Cape Coral, FL

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 135

Pollution and smoking rank: 39

Climate rank: 98

Skin health and care rank: 141

4. St. Petersburg, FL

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 141

Pollution and smoking rank: 89

Climate rank: 141

Skin health and care rank: 49

3. Shreveport, LA

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 138

Pollution and smoking rank: 129

Climate rank: 118

Skin health and care rank: 86

2. Akron, OH

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 144

Pollution and smoking rank: 116

Climate rank: 119

Skin health and care rank: 97

1. Port St. Lucie, FL

Skin cancer prevalence and contributors rank: 150

Pollution and smoking rank: 40

Climate rank: 95

Skin health and care rank: 124

While beautiful, Port St. Lucie doesn’t bode so well for skin care, and also reports the highest skin cancer death rate per 100,000 — 8.25%.