Most Common Skin Cancer Risk Factors

What is Skin Cancer? 

Like other types of cancer, skin cancer forms when cells begin to divide abnormally and outlive their normal lifespan. Cancers that occur in the layers of dividing skin cells are called basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer arising from pigmented cells called melanocytes, known as melanoma, is the most dangerous type of skin cancer but still highly treatable when caught early in its development. 

Most Common Skin Cancer Risk Factors

All cancers have the same underlying cause: changes to the DNA inside cells that allow them to behave abnormally. Many factors contribute to these DNA changes, which can allow cells to divide faster and resist the normal signals to stop growing. The most common of these risk factors is exposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds. UV rays penetrate the skin and cause DNA damage that greatly increases your risk. Other factors include:

• A history of sunburns
• Red hair or very pale skin
• Family history
• Older age
• Male gender
• Genetic or medical conditions
• Immune suppression
• Smoking
• A large number of moles

People with a family history of skin cancer may have inherited a genetic change that makes skin cells more likely to undergo cancerous changes. These changes are also more likely to develop randomly as you age. While you cannot avoid your genetics, you can protect yourself by taking preventative measures.