Why Is The Risk Of Skin Cancer Higher Now Than 50 Or A 100 Years Ago?

Because we are living longer, we aren't dying of other things first.

Because most people used to work on the land most of the year. Even school children used to play outside more so had more year-round exposure to the sun. People slowly built up a tan, which caused premature wrinkles and age-spots, but it also thickened the skin which provides some natural protection against skin cancer. And the tanner you already are, the less likely you are to sunburn (burning in itself increases the risk of sun cancer).

Because most far people who were very fair-skinned lived in places where they didn't get a lot of sun (northern Europe) or they followed the then-fashion of trying not to let their skin get dark (light skin was seen as desirable).

Because even those people who didn't get much year-round sun exposure rarely jetted off suddenly to a very sunny place, or went to tanning parlours (the speed with which a tan is acquired seems to be a risk factor, too).

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