|
|
 email this page |
|
To understand the risk factors for skin cancer, it
is important to know something about the different
types of skin cancer. The most common forms
of skin cancers are basal
cell carcinoma and squamous
cell carcinoma. These forms are often referred
to as nonmelanoma skin cancers to differentiate
them from a third type of skin cancer called melanoma.
Melanoma is less common than nonmelanoma skin cancers,
but more deadly and more likely to spread through
the body.
What are the known risk factors for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma? Anyone
who is exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun
is at risk for these two nonmelanoma skin cancers.
Factors that may increase your risk are:
|
What are the known risk factors for melanoma? No one knows the exact causes of melanoma or who will develop it. Research has shown that people with the following risk factors are more likely than others to develop it. But not everyone who has these or other risk factors for melanoma gets the disease. In fact, most do not. For example, about half the people who develop melanoma do not have dysplastic nevi and they may not have any other known risk factor for the disease.
