Skin cancer alarm in Berlin: Worrying increase in boys!

Skin cancer alarm in Berlin: Worrying increase in boys!

In recent years, the topic of skin cancer has become more urgent. A worrying increase in illnesses in Berlin shows that not only older generations are affected, but also young people. The medical report from the Barmer health insurance company shows that between 2005 and 2023, diagnoses of black skin cancer in the capital increased by 63 percent, which corresponds to an increase from 185 to 302 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The figures for non-melanoma skin cancer are even more alarming. There was a doubling of diagnoses from 725 to 1,504 per 100,000 inhabitants in the same period. These developments are interpreted by Barmer's Berlin/Brandenburg regional manager, Gabriela Leyh, as a serious warning signal.

“The danger of UV radiation has been underestimated for decades,” says Leyh. She therefore recommends going for a skin cancer screening every two years in order to be able to take action in good time. What is particularly worrying is that the baby boomer generation, particularly those born between 1964 and 1968, develop black skin cancer on average ten years earlier than their predecessors born between 1936 and 1940. A possible reason for this could be the increase in vacation trips and careless sunbathing since the 1960s, when awareness of UV protection was not yet widespread. This was further reinforced by the subsequent popularity of tanning salons from the 1980s onwards.

Climate change and skin cancer

But it's not just people's behavior that plays a role. Climate change could further increase future UV exposure, which could have a dramatic impact on skin health. In Germany, over 300,000 people develop skin cancer every year and over 4,000 die from it. According to scientific forecasts, a global temperature increase of 2°C could increase skin cancer incidence by up to 11 percent by 2050. This is closely related to the change in the ozone layer, which is also influenced by climate change. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified UV radiation as “carcinogenic to humans.”

Particularly alarming are the findings that show that 90 to 100 additional cases of skin cancer per million inhabitants per year are expected in the Mediterranean region by the end of the 21st century. Extrapolated to Germany, this would mean around 2,500 to 3,300 additional cases per year. Researchers warn that heat and heat stress can inhibit programmed cell death in cells exposed to UV-B radiation, increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Prevention measures

Given these frightening figures, it is essential to develop prevention strategies. Experts recommend integrating preventative measures to avoid UV and heat-related illnesses into adaptation strategies to the health consequences of climate change. Individual behavior, such as careful exposure to sunbathing and the use of sunscreen, plays a central role.

The current developments in Berlin are only part of a larger problem that is being exacerbated by climate change. It is up to all of us to act more consciously and actively take care of our skin health. Let us hope that the rising numbers will soon subside and a new awareness of UV protection can be created.

Further information on the topic can be found in the reports from rbb24, BFS and Climate-Human-Health.