For adolescents and adults who do not have signs or symptoms of skin cancer:
The USPSTF found the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of visual skin examination by a clinician to screen for skin cancer.
Grade: I statement

• This recommendation applies to adolescents and adults who do not have signs or symptoms of skin cancer.
• It does not apply to persons with a personal or family history of skin cancer.
• It does not apply to persons with symptoms, such as changes in size, shape, or color of skin growths or irregular moles.

• There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening for skin cancer in adolescents and adults. The USPSTF is calling for more research on the effectiveness of screening for skin cancer in populations with a diversity of skin tones and for studies assessing the accuracy of risk assessment tools and the impact of social determinants of health.
• Clinicians should use their judgment when deciding whether to screen for skin cancer.

• There are 2 main types of skin cancer: melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), which consists of basal and squamous cell carcinomas. KC is more common, but melanoma causes more deaths.
• Exposure to UV radiation from sun exposure, indoor tanning beds, and other UV radiation-emitting devices is the major environmental risk factor for skin cancer.
• A history of frequent sunburns, older age, and male sex are associated with increased risk for skin cancer.
• Melanoma is about 30 times more common in White persons than in Black persons. However, persons with darker skin color are often diagnosed at later stages, when skin cancer is more difficult to treat. Several factors may contribute to these disparities, including differences in risk factors, access to care, and clinical presentation.
• The most common type of melanoma among Black persons occurs mostly on skin not frequently exposed to direct sunlight, such as palms of hands, soles of feet, or under fingernails or toenails.

• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US; however, most skin cancers do not cause serious health problems or death.
• Melanoma constitutes about 1% of skin cancers. An estimated 98,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US in 2023, with 8000 associated deaths.
• There are many preventive behaviors persons can take to reduce skin cancer risk, such as minimizing sun exposure, protecting their skin when in the sun, and avoiding tanning beds.

• The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends interventions for skin cancer prevention in childcare centers; primary and middle schools; outdoor occupational, recreational, and tourism settings; and communities (https://www.thecommunityguide.org/).
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Melanoma Dashboard provides state and local data for melanoma incidence and mortality, UV radiation levels, and other risk factors. These geographic-specific data can help communities better meet their unique melanoma prevention needs (https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/melanomadashboard).