There are some risk factors that are not controllable, and the way certain cancers affect the sexes is one of these. Light-skinned men are more likely than anyone else to get skin cancer, and the risk goes up with age.

Sun exposure is the most important risk factor for skin cancer. Historically, men may have more sun exposure due to outdoor work. Long-term sun exposure seems to be an especially strong risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma. Additionally, men are less diligent about protecting themselves from the sun. 

Why is skin cancer more common in men?
According to the American Cancer Society, the following statistics hold true:

• Wearing long pants is the most common way that men protect their skin from the sun—and only one-third of men do that.
• About 25% of men stay in the shade and a mere 16% use sunscreen.
• Few men wear wide-brimmed hats (7%) or a long-sleeved shirt (8%) for sun protection.
• Half of young men—and two-thirds of young white men—have been sunburned in the past year.
• Having a history of severe sunburn increases the risk of melanoma almost 2.5 times for men.

What should you look for
In men, melanoma is most likely to grow on the chest and back. Melanoma is often a pigmented (dark) lesion that is larger than a normal mole. The melanoma may have an asymmetrical shape or uneven color.

It is also important to recognize signs of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and the precancer actinic keratosis. If you notice a questionable lesion, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or a dermatologist.

The fact is, it is hard to get a good look at your own back, behind your knees, or the tops of your ears. Yearly skin exams by your doctor are crucial to identifying all skin cancers early.  Melanoma is most treatable in its early stages. Survival rates get lower once the disease reaches the lymph nodes, and even lower once the disease has metastasized, or travels to distant organs.