Skin Cancer
Risk Factor
For Which Skin Cancer?
How Will I Know?
Does This
Risk Factor
Apply to Me?
Age
Basal cell,
Squamous cell
Most skin cancers appear after age 50. The actual damage
may have taken place years earlier.
Complexion
Basal cell,
Squamous cell,
Melanoma
If you have light colored eyes and fair skin that burns or freckles easily (usually people with red or blond hair), you are at greater risk.
Where you live
Basal cell,
Squamous cell,
Melanoma
If you live in an area with a higher level of UV radiation from the sun (such
as closer to the equator) you are at increased risk.
Cumulative sun exposure
Basal cell,
Squamous cell,
Melanoma
If you have had long-term, cumulative exposure to the UV rays of the sun, without good protection, you are at greater risk.
Exposure to artificial sources of UV radiation
Melanoma
Exposure to artificial sources of UV radiation, such as
sunlamps and tanning booths, can cause skin damage that can
lead to melanoma.
Dysplastic nevi
Melanoma
About one out of every ten people has at least one unusual
mole that looks different from an ordinary mole. The medical
term for these moles is dysplastic nevi. They are more likely
than ordinary moles to become cancerous. The risk is greatest
if you have a large number of dysplastic nevi. The risk is
especially high if you have a family history of both dysplastic
nevi and melanoma.
Many ordinary moles
Melanoma
If you have more than 50 ordinary moles, you are at increased
risk of melanoma.
Personal history of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancers
Melanoma
If you have been treated for melanoma, you have a high risk of a second melanoma.
Some people develop more than two melanomas. People who had one or more of the
common skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) are at
increased risk of melanoma.
Family history of melanoma
Melanoma
Having two or more close relatives who have had melanoma
is a risk factor. About 10 percent of all patients with melanoma
have a family member with this disease.
Weakened immune system
Melanoma
If your immune system is weakened by certain cancers, by drugs given following
organ transplantation, or by HIV, you are at increased risk.
Severe, blistering sunburns
Melanoma
If you had at least one severe, blistering
sunburn as a child or teenager, you are at increased risk.
Sunburns in adulthood are also a risk factor.