Taking our skin for granted is easy these days. After all, it seems that just about anyone with a computer can magically erase unsightly blemishes and other imperfections in a few clicks of a mouse. But photo-manipulation software can only help us so much to look our best. Proper care and awareness, on the other hand, are essential — not to mention more effective — to maintaining healthy skin and preventing skin disorders, including costly and dangerous skin cancer.
In the U.S., cancer of the skin is more common than breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers combined. According to a recent report from the American Cancer Society, more than five million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, including more than 76,000 incidences of invasive melanoma — the kind that spreads to other parts of the body — in 2016 alone. These cases could have been avoided, the ACS pointed out, by limiting use of tanning beds and exposure to skin’s No. 1 enemy: the sun. But our skin has other foes such as stress, pollution, tobacco use and a poor diet.
However, there are certain parts of the country where we don’t have to try as hard to protect and care for our skin. In these areas, the rate of skin cancer is low, the air cleaner, the sun kinder, and treatment more accessible. With the hottest months of the year before us, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 largest U.S. cities across 17 key metrics to identify the best and worst cities for our skin. Our data set ranges from “melanoma incidence rate per 100,000 residents” to “ultraviolet index” to “cost of a non-invasive dermatological procedure.” Continue reading below for our findings, additional expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.
Main Findings
Overall Rank |
City |
Total Score |
‘Skin-Cancer Prevalence & Contributors’ Rank |
‘Pollution & Smoking’ Rank |
‘Climate’ Rank |
‘Skin Health & Care’ Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | El Paso, TX | 73.21 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 119 |
2 | San Antonio, TX | 69.25 | 4 | 11 | 115 | 61 |
3 | Austin, TX | 67.18 | 13 | 13 | 102 | 43 |
4 | Minneapolis, MN | 65.05 | 51 | 16 | 24 | 11 |
5 | Santa Rosa, CA | 64.64 | 87 | 1 | 26 | 14 |
6 | Plano, TX | 63.27 | 30 | 17 | 120 | 18 |
7 | Memphis, TN | 62.68 | 6 | 74 | 106 | 57 |
8 | Dallas, TX | 62.28 | 17 | 28 | 120 | 40 |
9 | Newark, NJ | 61.99 | 7 | 33 | 29 | 146 |
10 | New York, NY | 61.97 | 9 | 37 | 29 | 133 |
11 | Boston, MA | 61.52 | 31 | 9 | 22 | 128 |
12 | Glendale, CA | 60.68 | 21 | 60 | 53 | 67 |
13 | Brownsville, TX | 60.67 | 3 | 10 | 144 | 135 |
14 | Jersey City, NJ | 60.56 | 5 | 107 | 29 | 142 |
15 | Houston, TX | 60.48 | 10 | 25 | 143 | 89 |
16 | Orlando, FL | 60.27 | 77 | 44 | 107 | 10 |
17 | Charlotte, NC | 60.22 | 35 | 83 | 64 | 56 |
18 | Chicago, IL | 59.91 | 24 | 31 | 47 | 132 |
19 | Albuquerque, NM | 59.80 | 56 | 12 | 84 | 42 |
20 | Washington, DC | 59.27 | 8 | 24 | 40 | 131 |
21 | Indianapolis, IN | 59.25 | 44 | 29 | 71 | 76 |
22 | Miami, FL | 59.25 | 29 | 50 | 146 | 21 |
23 | San Jose, CA | 59.08 | 32 | 4 | 103 | 148 |
24 | New Orleans, LA | 58.93 | 27 | 20 | 139 | 84 |
25 | Milwaukee, WI | 58.62 | 63 | 27 | 42 | 64 |
26 | St. Paul, MN | 58.40 | 11 | 87 | 24 | 82 |
27 | Fremont, CA | 58.33 | 55 | 7 | 49 | 112 |
28 | Irving, TX | 58.23 | 18 | 91 | 120 | 71 |
29 | Stockton, CA | 58.19 | 14 | 132 | 33 | 122 |
30 | Fresno, CA | 58.14 | 15 | 142 | 21 | 111 |
31 | San Francisco, CA | 58.12 | 48 | 69 | 49 | 48 |
32 | Augusta, GA | 58.05 | 39 | 68 | 91 | 41 |
33 | Long Beach, CA | 57.73 | 26 | 60 | 86 | 113 |
34 | Madison, WI | 57.63 | 92 | 2 | 132 | 35 |
35 | Seattle, WA | 57.62 | 88 | 80 | 2 | 62 |
36 | Cleveland, OH | 57.62 | 38 | 118 | 44 | 74 |
37 | Providence, RI | 57.54 | 65 | 104 | 23 | 31 |
38 | Garland, TX | 57.53 | 12 | 111 | 120 | 79 |
39 | Detroit, MI | 57.20 | 20 | 121 | 38 | 134 |
40 | Arlington, TX | 57.16 | 28 | 99 | 120 | 58 |
41 | Lincoln, NE | 57.14 | 117 | 3 | 140 | 39 |
42 | Honolulu, HI | 57.03 | 23 | 35 | 150 | 68 |
43 | Columbus, OH | 56.69 | 81 | 15 | 100 | 69 |
44 | Richmond, VA | 56.66 | 125 | 71 | 93 | 7 |
45 | Denver, CO | 56.65 | 49 | 102 | 36 | 70 |
46 | Santa Clarita, CA | 56.64 | 37 | 60 | 53 | 125 |
47 | Grand Prairie, TX | 56.64 | 19 | 88 | 120 | 108 |
48 | Tacoma, WA | 56.55 | 128 | 19 | 2 | 45 |
49 | Tucson, AZ | 56.52 | 109 | 67 | 15 | 20 |
50 | Durham, NC | 56.32 | 54 | 54 | 82 | 96 |
51 | Omaha, NE | 56.08 | 85 | 86 | 66 | 15 |
52 | Fort Worth, TX | 55.99 | 25 | 101 | 120 | 85 |
53 | Vancouver, WA | 55.76 | 126 | 41 | 13 | 26 |
54 | Wichita, KS | 55.54 | 70 | 57 | 99 | 25 |
55 | Nashville, TN | 55.52 | 66 | 85 | 105 | 55 |
56 | Anchorage, AK | 55.33 | 76 | 8 | 1 | 150 |
57 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 55.32 | 46 | 93 | 146 | 24 |
58 | Louisville, KY | 55.31 | 105 | 30 | 65 | 29 |
59 | Aurora, IL | 55.29 | 36 | 110 | 47 | 129 |
60 | Birmingham, AL | 55.26 | 130 | 26 | 90 | 6 |
61 | Baltimore, MD | 55.25 | 71 | 18 | 43 | 143 |
62 | Fontana, CA | 55.22 | 41 | 144 | 4 | 81 |
63 | Fort Wayne, IN | 55.01 | 57 | 23 | 131 | 100 |
64 | Los Angeles, CA | 54.90 | 22 | 138 | 39 | 137 |
65 | Sacramento, CA | 54.74 | 94 | 105 | 26 | 28 |
66 | Hialeah, FL | 54.74 | 16 | 50 | 146 | 138 |
67 | Grand Rapids, MI | 54.65 | 82 | 49 | 137 | 34 |
68 | Oakland, CA | 54.34 | 59 | 70 | 49 | 115 |
69 | Portland, OR | 54.23 | 123 | 117 | 13 | 19 |
70 | Little Rock, AR | 53.99 | 80 | 98 | 109 | 22 |
71 | St. Louis, MO | 53.98 | 124 | 32 | 85 | 17 |
72 | Las Vegas, NV | 53.95 | 114 | 95 | 61 | 13 |
73 | Corpus Christi, TX | 53.75 | 47 | 22 | 145 | 118 |
74 | Huntsville, AL | 53.71 | 73 | 90 | 104 | 33 |
75 | Raleigh, NC | 53.69 | 86 | 72 | 87 | 47 |
76 | Baton Rouge, LA | 53.61 | 120 | 103 | 111 | 8 |
77 | Aurora, CO | 53.61 | 69 | 109 | 36 | 107 |
78 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 53.54 | 33 | 93 | 146 | 93 |
79 | Scottsdale, AZ | 53.50 | 121 | 124 | 74 | 1 |
80 | Virginia Beach, VA | 53.41 | 79 | 45 | 67 | 88 |
81 | Boise, ID | 53.36 | 137 | 5 | 19 | 27 |
82 | Irvine, CA | 53.16 | 67 | 133 | 53 | 52 |
83 | Gilbert, AZ | 52.73 | 93 | 42 | 74 | 83 |
84 | Philadelphia, PA | 52.71 | 42 | 120 | 41 | 144 |
85 | Henderson, NV | 52.68 | 62 | 95 | 61 | 78 |
86 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 52.56 | 106 | 52 | 101 | 38 |
87 | Buffalo, NY | 52.47 | 112 | 82 | 35 | 50 |
88 | Atlanta, GA | 52.25 | 103 | 141 | 112 | 2 |
89 | San Bernardino, CA | 52.22 | 43 | 144 | 4 | 123 |
90 | Tampa, FL | 52.11 | 111 | 77 | 141 | 12 |
91 | Oklahoma City, OK | 52.08 | 61 | 119 | 117 | 75 |
92 | Bakersfield, CA | 52.01 | 50 | 150 | 12 | 105 |
93 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 51.98 | 68 | 144 | 4 | 77 |
94 | Ontario, CA | 51.97 | 45 | 144 | 4 | 126 |
95 | Overland Park, KS | 51.92 | 110 | 34 | 133 | 60 |
96 | Tempe, AZ | 51.87 | 102 | 42 | 74 | 80 |
97 | Kansas City, MO | 51.86 | 64 | 36 | 133 | 114 |
98 | Pittsburgh, PA | 51.84 | 99 | 130 | 45 | 32 |
99 | Columbus, GA | 51.27 | 40 | 92 | 88 | 53 |
100 | Des Moines, IA | 51.15 | 98 | 81 | 60 | 98 |
101 | Montgomery, AL | 50.72 | 34 | 84 | 97 | 66 |
102 | Mesa, AZ | 50.53 | 74 | 124 | 74 | 95 |
103 | Santa Ana, CA | 50.43 | 52 | 133 | 53 | 139 |
103 | Garden Grove, CA | 50.43 | 58 | 133 | 53 | 136 |
105 | Greensboro, NC | 50.29 | 122 | 58 | 72 | 59 |
106 | Norfolk, VA | 50.24 | 116 | 45 | 67 | 90 |
107 | Chula Vista, CA | 50.23 | 97 | 112 | 16 | 116 |
108 | Laredo, TX | 50.16 | 1 | 56 | 115 | 120 |
109 | San Diego, CA | 50.01 | 118 | 112 | 16 | 65 |
110 | Newport News, VA | 49.98 | 107 | 45 | 67 | 102 |
111 | Jackson, MS | 49.95 | 119 | 21 | 135 | 72 |
112 | Tulsa, OK | 49.89 | 83 | 139 | 127 | 54 |
113 | Salt Lake City, UT | 49.88 | 147 | 66 | 46 | 3 |
114 | Phoenix, AZ | 49.76 | 75 | 124 | 74 | 110 |
115 | Rochester, NY | 49.72 | 132 | 38 | 128 | 23 |
116 | Worcester, MA | 49.68 | 90 | 106 | 108 | 109 |
117 | Glendale, AZ | 49.61 | 84 | 124 | 74 | 101 |
118 | Huntington Beach, CA | 49.46 | 113 | 133 | 53 | 37 |
119 | Yonkers, NY | 49.42 | 53 | 122 | 29 | 149 |
120 | Cincinnati, OH | 49.31 | 136 | 108 | 110 | 4 |
121 | Chandler, AZ | 49.28 | 89 | 124 | 74 | 104 |
122 | Anaheim, CA | 49.23 | 60 | 133 | 53 | 145 |
123 | Chesapeake, VA | 48.90 | 104 | 45 | 67 | 117 |
124 | Jacksonville, FL | 48.85 | 91 | 59 | 136 | 106 |
125 | Oceanside, CA | 48.70 | 108 | 112 | 16 | 127 |
126 | Modesto, CA | 48.65 | 101 | 143 | 33 | 63 |
127 | Springfield, MO | 48.62 | 145 | 6 | 129 | 36 |
128 | Peoria, AZ | 48.38 | 96 | 131 | 74 | 103 |
129 | Winston-Salem, NC | 48.36 | 127 | 100 | 72 | 44 |
130 | Tallahassee, FL | 48.23 | 142 | 65 | 96 | 51 |
131 | Mobile, AL | 48.07 | 140 | 79 | 138 | 9 |
132 | North Las Vegas, NV | 47.95 | 72 | 95 | 61 | 147 |
133 | Moreno Valley, CA | 47.94 | 78 | 148 | 4 | 130 |
134 | Riverside, CA | 47.84 | 100 | 148 | 4 | 99 |
135 | Sioux Falls, SD | 47.80 | 149 | 53 | 52 | 73 |
136 | Fayetteville, NC | 47.64 | 139 | 55 | 82 | 91 |
137 | Reno, NV | 46.96 | 146 | 76 | 20 | 30 |
138 | Knoxville, TN | 46.92 | 143 | 123 | 92 | 5 |
139 | Colorado Springs, CO | 46.87 | 131 | 63 | 28 | 87 |
140 | Lubbock, TX | 46.82 | 115 | 115 | 113 | 92 |
141 | Oxnard, CA | 46.48 | 129 | 75 | 4 | 140 |
142 | Amarillo, TX | 46.08 | 133 | 64 | 114 | 94 |
143 | Chattanooga, TN | 46.07 | 134 | 78 | 89 | 46 |
144 | Toledo, OH | 45.54 | 95 | 140 | 130 | 121 |
145 | Spokane, WA | 43.69 | 148 | 73 | 93 | 16 |
146 | Cape Coral, FL | 42.19 | 135 | 39 | 98 | 141 |
147 | St. Petersburg, FL | 41.35 | 141 | 89 | 141 | 49 |
148 | Shreveport, LA | 40.62 | 138 | 129 | 118 | 86 |
149 | Akron, OH | 38.47 | 144 | 116 | 119 | 97 |
150 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 36.05 | 150 | 40 | 95 | 124 |
Ask the Experts
Properly caring for your skin can not only delay the aging process and prevent skin conditions, but it can also save your wallet from costly medical treatments. For advice on how to safeguard both your skin and your finances, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- What tips do you have for a person looking to maintain healthy skin on a budget?
- What are the most effective ways to reduce one’s risk of skin cancer?
- What can local authorities do to reduce the incidences of skin cancer in their areas?
- Given that Europeans have many more options for sunscreen, is this product line overregulated in the U.S.?
Ask the Experts
Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery, Director of Surgical, Laser and Cosmetic Dermatologic Education, and Site Director of Fellowship in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine
Read More
Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, Director of the Early Clinical Drug Development Phase 1 Program, and Co-Director of the Cutaneous Oncology and Melanoma Program in the Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University
Read More
Medical Director of University of Missouri Health Care’s Dermatology Clinics and Associate Professor and Fellowship Program Director for the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship Program at the MU School of Medicine
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Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
Read More
George F. Odland Endowed Chair in Dermatology at University of Washington, and Clinical Director of Skin Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Read More
Professor for Systems Biology and Melanoma Metabolism at the University of California Merced
Read More
Methodology
In order to identify the best and worst cities for our skin, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities across four key areas: 1) Skin-Cancer Prevalence & Contributors, 2) Pollution & Smoking, 3) Climate and 4) Skin Health & Care. With regard to our sample, please note that “city” includes city proper and excludes surrounding metro areas.
We first identified 17 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was given a value between 0 and 100, wherein 100 represents the most favorable conditions for our skin and 0 the least.
Finally, we calculated the overall score for each city using the weighted average across all metrics and ranked the cities accordingly.
Skin-Cancer Prevalence & Contributors – Total Points: 40
- Melanoma Incidence Rate per 100,000 Residents: Triple Weight (~17.14 Points)
- Skin-Cancer Death Rate per 100,000 Residents: Triple Weight (~17.14 Points)
- Number of Tanning Salons per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
Pollution & Smoking – Total Points: 20
- Air Pollution: Triple Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Smoking Rate Among Adults: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Local 100% Smoke-Free Laws: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Water Quality: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Climate – Total Points: 20
- Ultraviolet Index: Triple Weight (~10.91 Points)
- Humidity: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the difference between the average relative humidity and the optimal humidity (40) for this period. - Average Wind Speed: Half Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Number of Days with Extreme Temperatures: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric considers the mean number of days with a minimum temperature of 32 degrees F or less and the mean number of days with a maximum temperature of 90 degrees F or more.
Skin Health & Care – Total Points: 20
- Number of Dermatologists per 100,000 Residents: Double Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Number of Skin-Care Specialists per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Number of Skin-Care Centers per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Number of Cosmetics- & Beauty-Supply Stores per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Cost of a Dermatologist: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric measures the cost of a microdermabrasion procedure. - Cost of Cosmetic Medicine: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric measures the cost of a minimally invasive laser skin resurfacing.
Sources: Data used to create these rankings were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Environmental Protection Agency, Yelp, American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, County Health Rankings, NOAA Climate Prediction Center, National Centers for Environmental Information and CAREOperative.