This is a sub-category of all cancer deaths (see Map 7) and includes only the form of skin cancer known as malignant melanoma.

See also Other neoplasms (Map 61), which includes other forms of skin cancer.

There is an obvious north-south divide on the map, with a gradient from higher rates on the south coast to lower rates in northern parts. This probably reflects the British climate, and also where those who can afford to holiday in the sun reside.

Malignant melanoma, the form of skin cancer that we map here, is the most serious type of skin cancer as it can spread to other parts of the body. The leading cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to sunlight. Rates have been increasing in recent years, thought to be due to increasing numbers of people taking increasing numbers of holidays abroad, and the popularity of the ‘tanned look’ and the use of tanning booths and sun lamps to achieve that look.

Skin cancer is very evenly distributed between males and females (see age–sex bar chart) although the age distributions are slightly different. For both males and females mortality increases incrementally with age until the 70s, reflecting, possibly, accumulated sun exposure over the life course.