Cancer is one of the diseases that highly impacts human health and its origin is associated with multiple factors; specifically, skin cancer is one of the most frequent neoplasms in the world, being the twelfth most diagnosed among the different types of cancer in 2018, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. Similarly, it should be considered that, currently, there is a significant population in the world economy that is significantly exposed to risk factors that can lead to the development of this entity. Objective: To describe the prevalence of skin cancer and associated factors in workers exposed to pesticides used in different economic activities. Methodology: A scoping review of the literature was carried out, selecting articles in databases such as Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Google Scholar in English and Spanish between 2005 and 2019, using keywords according to Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) such as: pesticides, skin cancer, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides. A bunch of studies were found describing the problem; and the prevalence of this pathology in workers exposed to pesticides was analyzed and determined. Results: A literature review was carried out whit case-control studies in which it was documented that workers exposed to pesticides had a risk of Cutaneous Melanoma (OR 2.03), in another publication a risk of skin cancer was found whit exposure to arsenic OR of 4.1 (95% CI 0.9-18.5). For insecticides the risk was OR 1.1 (95% CI 0.7 - 1.8), herbicides OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.3 - 1.5), fungicides OR 1.1 (95% CI 0, 3 - 3.8), DDT OR 1.0 (95% CI 0.6 - 1.8)), parathion OR 1.0 (95% CI 0.5 - 2.1). Conclusion: The exposure to pesticides in workers is frequent and it has harmful effects on the health of workers related to cancer. However, the evidence of the association between these substances and the appearance of exclusive skin cancer is not numerous, therefore, studies must be carried out to substantiate this and contribute to public health policies.
