Skin Cancer Risk Factors

Habits or Traits that Can Increase Your Risk for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. A person's risk for getting skin cancer is determined by many factors. But the most important and most preventable risk is exposure to UV radiation from the sun, sun lamps, and tanning beds. I've tried to group other similar risk factors together so they are easier to remember than a long list. Some risks apply more to melanoma or the non-melanoma skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Exposures

Although exposure to UV radiation is the most common risk factor for getting skin cancer, other situations or chemicals can make a person more susceptible.

• Exposure to UV radiation
• Living at a high altitude or in a sunny climate
• Radiation therapy
• Drugs that suppress the immune system
• Exposure to arsenic, industrial coal, and tar
• Infection with certain human papillomaviruses, especially in someone who is HIV-positive
• Smoking

Chronic Inflammation

When the skin is inflamed or irritated for a long time, some cells may become damaged enough that they become cancerous. Examples include:

• Long-standing skin inflammation or ulcers
• Scars or burns on the skin
• Multiple sunburns in the past

Sun-Sensitive Diseases

Certain diseases that make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

• Xeroderma pigmentosum
• Albinism
• Basal cell nevus syndrome

Previous Skin Cancers or Pre-Cancers

Someone who has had a skin cancer in the past is more likely to get another one. If a close relative has been diagnosed with skin cancer, that may indicate that you are more likely to develop skin cancer also. The following diagnoses are risk factors for developing skin cancer:

• Having been diagnosed with skin cancer in the past
• Family history of skin cancer in a close relative
• Diagnosis of actinic keratosis
• Diagnosis of Bowen's disease

Some Moles

Most moles are not cancerous. But certain people with moles are more likely to get skin cancer. These are people who:

• Have more than 50 moles on their body
• Were born with a large mole (greater than 20 cm or 7.9 inches)

Personal Characteristics

People with a Fitzpatrick Skin Type of I or II are more likely to develop skin cancer. These characteristics include:

• Blonde or red hair
• Blue, gray, or green eyes
• Fair complexion
• Freckles
• Burn easily
• Difficulty getting a tan

_Sources:

National Institutes of Health. "What You Need to Know About Melanoma" NIH Publication No. 02-1563. (2002): 1-50.

National Institutes of Health. "What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer" NIH Publication No. 05-1564. (2005): 1-40.

Saraiya, M et al. “Preventing Skin Cancer: Findings of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services on Reducing Exposure to Ultraviolet Light.” MMWR Recommendations & Reports. 52-RR15(2003): 1-12.