Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle

Skin Cancer — Step 3: Take Action To Reduce Your Skin Cancer Risk	email this page
While no one can say you will never get cancer, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. What You Can Do The two most important things you can do to reduce your risk of skin cancers are to protect yourself from the effects of the sun and check your body regularly for changes in moles or for unusual moles.

Find out more:
Do a monthly skin self-exam	Tips for protection from the sun	Signs and symptoms of skin cancer

Skin Cancer Risk Reduction Action Tool
Below are risk factors for skin cancer. Select the ones you want to work on to put on your risk reduction list. After you build your list, you can print it out and take to your doctor to discuss your action plan.

Skin Cancer Risk Factors	For Which Skin Cancer?	What Can I Do To Reduce the Risk?	Select Items To Put On My Risk Reduction Action List
Age	Basal cell, Squamous cell	If you have had skin damage from sunburn earlier in life, you cannot do anything to change that. However, you can start now to protect yourself from UV radiation and check your skin monthly.
Complexion	Basal cell, Squamous cell, Melanoma	You cannot change your complexion, but you can be conscious of the increased risk if you have a light complexion (usually accompanied by red or blond hair and light-colored eyes) and protect yourself accordingly.
Where you live	Basal cell, Squamous cell, Melanoma	Very few of us are free to change where we live, but if you live in an area with a higher UV index, you can take extra care to protect yourself from the sun.
Cumulative sun exposure	Basal cell, Squamous cell, Melanoma	You cannot change the cumulative effects of the extensive sun exposures you may have had in the past. However, you can prevent the problem from worsening.
Exposure to artificial sources of UV radiation	Melanoma	To prevent or reduce exposure to artificial sources of UV rays: Do not use tanning beds and booths. Try tanning sprays instead of going to a tanning salon. In fact, some salons provide only tanning spray services.
Dysplastic nevi (abnormal moles)	Melanoma	You should have dysplastic nevi checked regularly by a doctor or nurse specialist, especially if they look unusual; grow larger; or change in color, outline, or in any other way.
Many ordinary moles	Melanoma	If you have more than 50 ordinary moles, you should be checked regularly by a doctor or nurse specialist.
Personal history of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancers	Melanoma	Have regular checkups as recommended by your doctor.
Family history of melanoma	Melanoma	When two or more family members develop melanoma, it is important for all of the patient's close relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, and children over age 10) to see a doctor, who will then advise them about their own increased risk.
Weakened immune system	Melanoma	Ask your doctor if you should be checked, and how often.
Severe blistering sunburns	Melanoma	These types of sunburns increase the risk of melanoma. Ask your doctor if you should be checked, and how often.

A Service of the National Cancer Institute