New Mexico is sunny more often than not, making skin cancer common, but the number of dermatologists in the state is dwindling, according to an April University of New Mexico (UNM) news release.

UNM will offer free screenings during May for Melanoma Awareness Month, KOB 4 reported. 

The number of dermatologists in the state is currently less than three dozen, according to Dr. John Durkin, an assistant professor at UNM's Department of Dermatology.

"It's a huge problem," Durkin said in the news release. "We did a study in 2019 to gauge how many dermatologists were in the state, and we found 33 who were board-certified and practicing for a population of about 2 million people."

New Mexico needs at least twice as many dermatologists to provide adequate access to care, according to the news release, which cited Journal of the American Medical Association reports.

The majority of the 33 dermatologists in New Mexico practice in large metropolitan areas, particularly Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. This makes it particularly difficult for people in rural areas. Durkin's time is split between the UNM Medical Arts building and the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

New Mexico is a very sunny place, even sunnier than Florida, the so-called "Sunshine State." New Mexico gets an average of 278 sunny days a year, far more than the U.S. average of 205 and Florida's 237, according to Sperling's Best Places.

The shortage of dermatologists in New Mexico often means that wait times can be long.  

Prior to the COVID pandemic, UNM's Department of Dermatology and Cancer Center worked to fill access and education gaps with skin cancer screening clinics throughout the state. Thanks to recent changes in indoor masking requirements, the UNM clinics are resuming.

The first of the post-pandemic cancer screening clinics will occur in Albuquerque from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on May 7 at the UNM Department of Dermatology Clinic, 1021 Medical Arts Ave NE. More screening clinics are planned this year in Gallup, Taos, and southern New Mexico. The screenings will be on a first-come, first-served basis with no appointments necessary. UNM medical students will man the clinics to assist people and provide in-depth skin cancer education.

The Albuquerque screening clinic is sponsored by the Ryan F. Daniell Memorial Fund, Shannon J. Shaw Memorial Cancer Fund, UNM Department of Dermatology, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, and American Academy of Dermatology.

Anyone who would like more information can call (505) 272-6222.