Tasmania may be cooler than mainland Australia, but skin cancer is still a serious issue for Tasmanian men. UV radiation remains the key environmental cause of skin cancer, and cumulative exposure over a lifetime can have a major impact.

One of the clearest Tasmanian statistics comes from the Tasmanian Cancer Registry: about 9,800 Tasmanians were diagnosed with a common non-melanoma skin cancer in 2018, and the rates were higher in men than women. The risk also increases substantially with age.

The big three

For Tasmanian men, skin cancer includes:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) - the most common form of skin cancer.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) - also very common and can be more aggressive.
• Melanoma - less common than BCC or SCC but potentially much more dangerous because it can spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma is particularly important when talking about Australian men. Across Australia, the estimated melanoma incidence rate in 2025 was 78 cases per 100,000 males compared with 50 per 100,000 females. Rates become substantially higher among men from around age 50 onwards.

Why Tasmanian blokes shouldn't think they're safe

A cooler climate doesn't mean you're protected from UV.

Men who have spent years working or playing outdoors - farmers, tradies, fishermen, boaters, gardeners, sportsmen, emergency workers and anyone who spends weekends outdoors - can accumulate significant lifetime UV exposure.

And skin cancer isn't necessarily something that happens only to an older bloke. UV damage accumulates over decades, which is why protecting your skin and checking it regularly matters throughout life.

Men are also more likely to die from skin cancer

The sex difference isn't just about diagnosis. Australian data shows that men have higher mortality from melanoma, and recent AIHW analysis also finds higher death rates from common non-melanoma skin cancers among males than females.

There is another issue worth talking about: men can be less likely to notice, monitor or act on suspicious changes to their skin. That makes education, regular self-checking and getting suspicious spots professionally assessed particularly important.

The message for Tasmanian blokes

Don't wait until a spot becomes a problem.

Get to know your skin. Look for spots that are new, changing, bleeding, itching or simply don't look right. Pay particular attention to areas that receive a lot of sun — including the face, ears, scalp, neck, shoulders, arms and back.

And remember: a tan isn't a sign of healthy skin - it's a sign that your skin has been exposed to UV radiation.