Fewer skin tumours diagnosed in England during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: greatest reductions in melanoma in situ, stage I melanomas and basal cell carcinomas

The analysis of over 880 000 skin tumours in England (2019–2022) showed an 18% drop in diagnoses during 2020, mainly for slower-growing and less symptomatic lesions such as melanoma in situ, stage I melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. By 2022, most tumour types recovered or exceeded pre-COVID-19 levels. Delays in diagnosis during the pandemic raise concern that some tumours may present at more advanced stages. These findings underline the need to safeguard skin cancer services and increase public awareness of available services and early tumour recognition in future crises.