🎗️ Skin cancer decrease among younger people in Sweden, the first country in Europe

🎗️ Skin cancer decrease among younger people in Sweden, the first country in Europe

The risk of malignant melanoma is decreasing for people under 50 in Sweden since 2015. Improved awareness of sun protection and reduced access to tanning beds contribute to the decrease. Mortality from skin cancer has also decreased for age groups up to 59 years.

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  • The risk of malignant melanoma is decreasing for people under 50 in Sweden since 2015.
  • Improved awareness of sun protection and reduced access to tanning beds contribute to the decrease.
  • Mortality from skin cancer has also decreased for age groups up to 59 years.

New study shows positive trend for skin cancer

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that cases of malignant melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, are decreasing among young adults in Sweden. This decrease was first observed around 2015 and applies to people under 50 years of age.

The study shows that while cases continue to increase for people over 50, the curve has turned downward for the younger age groups. This is the first time such a decrease has been observed in Sweden, making the country the first in Europe to report a decline.

Mortality from skin cancer has also decreased for age groups up to 59 years. Researchers believe this is due to both fewer cases and the introduction of new oncological drugs.

Factors behind the decrease

Researchers identify four main factors that may have contributed to the reduced risk of skin cancer among younger people:

  1. Increased awareness of sun protection, especially for children, as a result of national information campaigns.
  2. Drastically reduced access to tanning beds, including an 18-year age limit since 2018.
  3. More time spent indoors due to increased use of mobile phones and computers.
  4. Increased immigration, which has brought more individuals with darker pigmentation who tolerate sun better.

Continued efforts required

Despite the positive trends, researchers emphasize the importance of continued efforts to increase awareness of sun protection. This is necessary to maintain the reduction of melanoma in younger people and to eventually see a decrease in older age groups as well.

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