Melanoma cases hit record high in the UK: What it is and how to prevent it

More than 20,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK released just days ago. That's the highest number ever recorded. And it's going to get worse. Researchers are projecting that by 2040, annual melanoma diagnoses could climb to 26,500 cases a year, The Guardian reported. That's a 23% increase among men and a 26% increase among women compared to current numbers. The trend is visible across every age group, though it's particularly alarming in people over 80, who've seen a 57% increase in melanoma rates over the past decade.


So what's actually happening here? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

The answer to the first question is complicated. Yes, the UK population is aging and growing, which naturally increases cancer cases overall. But there's more going on. Melanoma skin cancer incidence rates in the UK have increased by more than two-and-a-half-times since the early 1990s, which is a dramatic jump that can't be explained by demographics alone. Better detection tools are part of it. More awareness of warning signs is part of it. But the real driver is simpler and more frustrating: UV exposure.


Nearly 9 out of 10 melanoma cases in the UK are caused by too much UV radiation from the sun and sunbeds. That means roughly 17,000 of those 20,000 cases are entirely preventable. International research backs this up. A new study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that more than 80% of melanoma cases worldwide in 2022 were attributable to ultraviolet radiation exposure, with approximately 267,000 out of 332,000 global cases caused by UVR.

What melanoma actually is

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin—the pigment that gives your skin color. Unlike basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma tends to spread, which is why it's the one doctors get genuinely worried about.


The gender split is interesting. Among adults under 55, women are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than men, likely due to younger women having more sun exposure from activities like sunbathing and using sunbeds, while rates are higher in men later in life, possibly because of long-term sun exposure. As per the findings of a study by the same charity, while four in 10 melanomas in men are found on the torso, including the back, chest and stomach, about 35% of melanomas in women are found on lower limbs, from the hips to the feet.

Prevention

You've been told to wear sunscreen. And you should. But the evidence on sunscreen preventing melanoma specifically is actually more complicated. When sunscreen is used correctly and consistently, it does help. Use of sun protection factor SPF 15 or higher reduces melanoma risk by 30% compared with use of lower SPF sunscreens. But SPF 15 is the minimum. Current guidelines recommend broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher. The key word is broad-spectrum, which blocks both UVA and UVB radiation.


The problem is application. Most people don't use enough sunscreen. They don't reapply it properly. They use it as their only protection. And then they wonder why they still get sunburned.

What actually works

The evidence is clearest for things that aren't sunscreen. Clothing works. Hats work. Staying in the shade works. UV-blocking fabrics exist and they actually block UV.

So the actual prevention strategy looks like this: wear sunscreen (SPF 30+ broad-spectrum), but treat it as a last line of defense, not your only defense. Wear protective clothing when you're going to be outside for extended periods. Seek shade during peak sun hours (roughly 11 AM to 3 PM). Avoid sunbeds entirely. And crucially, don't intentionally tan. The tanned look doesn't come from health—it comes from skin damage.

The early detection reality

Here's something that's actually working: early detection. When melanoma is caught before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is around 95%. So alongside prevention, knowing what to look for matters. New or changing moles, sores that don't heal, patches of skin that look abnormal—these are reasons to see your GP. Most skin changes aren't cancer. But the ones that are? Early treatment changes everything.


Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, told The Guardian: “Take care when the sun is strong by seeking shade, covering up and applying sunscreen and, if you notice any unusual changes to your skin, contact your GP. Whether it is a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or an area of your skin that looks out of the ordinary, it’s important to get it checked out. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, getting it diagnosed and treated early can make all the difference.” The record numbers are alarming. But they're also preventable. That's the message that actually matters.