2016's Best & Worst Cities for Your Skin

Richie Bernardo, Senior WriterMay 19, 2016

Richie Bernardo, Senior Writer
May 19, 2016

2016 Best Worst Cities for Your Skin

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.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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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

Artwork Best &-Worst Cities for Your Skin 2016

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

Kira Minkis
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

Anthony J. Olszanski
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

Nicholas Golda
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
Read More

DeAnn Lazovich
Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
Read More

Paul Nghiem
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

Fabian V. Filipp
Professor for Systems Biology and Melanoma Metabolism at the University of California Merced
Read More

More Experts

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.

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