Skin Cancer

Who Is Most At Risk Of Developing Skin Cancer?

Anyone can get skin cancer. Although most cases occur in people over age 50 with fair skin, it can develop in younger people, and those with dark skin. In general, an individual’s lifetime exposure to UV light determines his risk.

Certain individuals have a risk that is higher than the rest of the population. Included are people who:

  • Have light skin that freckles easily and tends to burn rather than tan. Individuals with blond or red hair and blue or light gray eyes often have fair skin. The skin type table can help determine an individual’s risk.
  • Live in geographic regions closer to the equator, where sunlight is strongest. Residents of Florida, Texas, and southern California, for instance, have a greater risk than those in Maine, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.
  • Work outdoors or spend lots of time in leisure activities in the sun.
  • Already have had skin cancer. A diagnosis of skin cancer means that an individual has a higher-than-normal risk for the disease. These individuals must take great care to minimize UV exposure and follow other preventive measures.

The risk of skin cancer also varies with the kind of sun exposure.

  • Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are more common in people who spend a lot of time in the sun over many years. This includes people who work outdoors or engage in other daily outdoor activities in warm climates.
  • Malignant melanoma is more common in people who get occasional, high-intensity sun exposure. People who sunbathe on vacations or during brief sunny periods in cold climates may get such exposure.
  • Some studies show that a single serious sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer by 50 percent.

Nice To Know:

An adult’s risk of skin cancer may be decided during childhood. Most people get the majority of their lifetime sun exposure before reaching 18 years of age.

DETERMINING YOUR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SKIN CANCER- SKIN TYPE

SKIN TYPE

(Fitzpatrick)

*RESPONSE TO SUN EXPOSURE

EXAMPLES

SUSCEPTIBILITY

I

Always sunburn, don’t tan

Fair-skinned & freckled

Blue-eyed, Celts

Very High

II

Always sunburn

Tan minimally

Fair-skinned, blonde haired,

Blue-eyed, Scandinavians

High

III

Sometimes sunburn,

Tan moderately

Fair-skinned, brown hair,

Brown-eyed;

Unexposed skin is white

Average

IV

Seldom sunburn,

Tan easily

Light brown skin, dark brown

hair, brown-eyed;

Unexposed skin is tan;

Mediterranean, Hispanic

Low

V

Rarely sunburn,

Tan profusely

Brown skinned; darker

Mediterranean, Orientals,

Eastern Indians

Very low

VI

Never sunburn,

Deeply pigmented

Blacks

Minimal

* Generally based on first exposure to summer sun following winter without exposure

Related Topics

Related Topics

Melanoma

Acne

Psoriasis

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