Even with the clouds, Puget Sound ranks among highest in nation for skin cancer

Sunburn file photo



KING COUNTY -- If Puget Sound was a state, it would rank the fourth highest in the nation for skin cancer rates, the Washington State Department of Health said in a release Wednesday.

According to the department of health, rainy Puget Sound ranks so high for skin cancer because of a popular misconception that cloudy weather means people don't have to protect themselves from the the sun.

The state Department of Health advises that protecting you and your family from skin cancer is something that must be done all year, regardless of whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Ultra Violet (UV) light exposure, the most preventable cause of skin cancer, occurs even on cloudy days, officials said.

The Health Department offered these tips on protecting from skin cancer:


    To learn more about protecting against skin cancer, click here.