Skin tumours in White South Africans. Part II. Age and sex distribution.

The incidence of skin tumours according to age and sex is analysed. Sun-induced tumours occur most commonly in persons between the ages of 50 and 69 years. One half of malignant melanomas are seen at ages following the decline in incidence of junctional and compound naevi. Squamous cell carcinomas occur earlier in males. Histiocytomas are seen earlier and spider angiomas later in females. Tumours occurring predominantly in males include squamous and basal cell carcinoma, kerato-acanthoma and pyogenic granuloma. Histiocytoma and spider angioma are seen more often in females.