Light exposure of the lower leg as a pathogenetic factor in the occurrence of malignant melanoma.

Of the 1,198 women and men studied in Mainz from 1966 to 1987 there was an approximately fivefold increase in the incidence of melanoma. Among the men melanomas on the trunk (59.9%) predominated, whereas among the women melanomas on the extremities (40.0%) were more common, especially on the lower leg (26.3%). Comparing the decades 1966-1976 and 1977-1987 there was a significant decrease in melanomas affecting women's lower legs (1966-1976: 33%,; 1977-1987: 24.2%). Fashion-dependent sun exposure of this body area might offer an explanation. It could be demonstrated that common stocking materials do not sufficiently protect against UV radiation (average permeability for UV light about 55%), …