Risk Factors for Developing Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the United States, and its rates continue to rise. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, at the rate at which skin cancer incidence is increasing, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.
Because skin cancers are highly curable if detected and treated in the early stages, screening for skin cancer is one of the most important steps that people can take (besides staying out of the sun) to prevent skin cancer altogether or to optimize the chances of a cure.
Some people are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer than others. Risk factors, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, include the following:

• A close blood relative who has or has had melanoma, or a family history of other skin cancers
• A personal history of skin cancer
• A history of exposure to UV rays from the sun, tanning beds or sunlamps, whether intermittent or year-round, even if the exposure was years ago.
• A past experience of severe, especially blistering, sunburn
• Fair skin, especially when the person has blond or red hair and blue, green or gray eyes
• Sun sensitivity or a tendency to burn and freckle rather than tan
• Large, asymmetrical, or unusual-looking mole(s)
• 50 or more moles
• A history of X-ray treatments for acne
• A current regime of immunosuppressive medications for severe arthritis or to prevent organ rejection

Regular screening visits to the dermatologist are one important way you can take control of your health. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that everyone, at the very least, should "check your birthday suit on your birthday."

Lathering on the sunscreen, trying to stay out of the sun during the midday hours, and wearing clothing and hats to protect against the sun's damaging rays will help prevent skin cancer not to mention premature aging. Because most of us have been out in the sun unprotected and have experienced a more-than-mild sunburn at some time during our lives, screening for skin cancer provides the best chances of catching precancerous areas or early skin cancers.

Again, the good news is that skin cancer is highly curable in its early stages. It is up to each of us to screen for these early stages so that precancerous or cancerous areas may be completely removed to optimize these high chances for a cure.