SKIN CANCER SCREENING FOR SURFERS
Why consistent screening matters with long-term sun exposure
Surfers experience repeated ultraviolet (UV) exposure over many years, often with additional reflection from the water, which increases cumulative sun damage over time.
This places surfers at increased risk for:
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
melanoma
Why surfers are at higher risk
Research has consistently demonstrated significantly higher rates of skin cancer in surfers compared to the general population.
In one Australian screening study:
nearly 50% of surfers examined had at least one skin cancer or precancerous lesion identified during screening.[1]
Additional studies have shown:
higher rates of melanoma in surfers
increased skin cancer prevalence with greater lifetime surfing exposure
competitive surfers may carry even higher risk due to cumulative UV exposure[2]
Why surfing increases UV exposure
Several factors amplify UV exposure while surfing:
prolonged time outdoors
reflection of UV rays off the water
inconsistent sunscreen reapplication
intense exposure during peak UV hours
Saltwater, sweating, and repeated water exposure can also reduce sunscreen effectiveness over time.
Skin cancer can affect younger surfers too
One of the biggest misconceptions is that skin cancer screening is only important later in life.
Many surfers begin accumulating significant UV exposure at a young age, and cumulative sun damage develops over years of repeated exposure.
Even younger surfers should:
become familiar with their skin
monitor changing moles or lesions
discuss screening with a healthcare provider when appropriate
When to seek screening
Consider discussing regular skin exams with a healthcare professional if you have:
extensive lifetime sun exposure
frequent surfing history
fair skin or history of sunburns
family or personal history of skin cancer
changing moles or skin lesions
Routine self-skin checks are also important.
Warning signs to monitor
Watch for:
changing moles
irregular borders
bleeding or non-healing spots
rapidly growing lesions
persistent scaly or irritated areas
Prevention strategies
Helpful protective measures include:
regular sunscreen reapplication
rash guards and UV-protective clothing
surf hats and sunglasses when appropriate
avoiding prolonged peak UV exposure when possible
UV exposure can affect the eyes too
Long-term UV exposure may also contribute to eye conditions such as:
chronic irritation
photokeratitis
From a Surfer + Medical Perspective
From a clinical perspective, surfers represent a high UV-exposure population with increased long-term risk for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. From a surfer’s perspective, sun exposure often becomes normalized — especially when surfing regularly from a young age.
Many surfers delay screening because they feel healthy and active, but cumulative UV damage begins long before visible skin cancer develops. Early awareness, routine skin checks, and preventative habits are some of the most important long-term investments surfers can make for their health.
References
Climstein M, et al. PeerJ. 2022.
Climstein M, et al. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2016.
Miller IJ, et al. PeerJ. 2023.
Bennett HG, et al. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2022.
USPSTF. JAMA. 2023.
Joshi UM, et al. JAMA. 2025.