Rising Skin Cancer Disease Burden in India in the Context of Environmental and Social Determinants of Health

Abstract

The global incidence of skin cancer is increasing, with India seeing a marked rise in the last three decades. Skin cancer primarily occurs in white populations, yet the protective effects of eumelanin in darker skin tones do not eliminate the risk of cutaneous malignancy. To conceptualize the burden of skin cancer in India and to assess environmental risks associated with skin cancer as well as the sociodemographic factors that increase disease vulnerability, 1990–2021 Global Burden of Disease Study skin cancer data for India and National Aeronautics and Space Administration air quality data were examined. Additionally, a literature review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using search terms relevant to skin cancer epidemiology, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health. In India, anthropogenic drivers of environmental degradation and climate change including stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming, and air pollution, increase the risk of skin cancer development. However, these health effects are not equally distributed. Geographic factors such as elevation, latitude, sources of drinking water, and regional weather patterns partially determine environmental exposures including ultraviolet radiation, arsenic, heat, and air pollutants. Sociodemographic disparities in skin cancer burden in India are also observed, including gender, occupation, and socioeconomic status, which further effect exposure to climate hazards, access to care, and sun protection practices. Key environmental and demographic factors contribute to India’s rising rates of skin cancer. The implications extend beyond India, and demonstrate a pressing need for practical climate adaptation strategies for low- and middle-income countries.