The warm weather has been creeping into Minnesota of late, and soon people will be flocking outdoors to spend some time at the lake or biking through the park. With this increased time outside comes an increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer. You should always take steps to protect yourself from harmful UV rays, especially if you are at an elevated risk for developing skin cancer. Today, we take a look at the risk factors that make a person more likely to develop skin cancer.
Body
- Having fair skin, blonde or red hair, blue or green eyes or skin that burns or freckles easily.
- Having a number of moles on your body.
- Having skin that has been severely burnt in the past or individuals with an inflammatory skin disease.
Genetics
- Individuals with a family history of skin cancer.
- People with genetic conditions like xeroderma pigmentosum, which affects the body’s ability to repair UV damage, or those with HPV.
Lifestyle
- Smokers are more likely to develop some types of skin cancers, especially on their ips.
- Individuals exposed to harmful chemicals like arsenic, coal, paraffin in their daily or professional lives are at an increased risk for some types of non-melanoma skin cancers.
- People who don’t apply sunscreen or other UV ray mitigation techniques when in direct sunlight.
Previous Diagnosis
- Patients who have had a previous mole treated with radiation will be at an increased risk for developing skin cancer in the area.
- Individuals who have undergone UV treatment for certain conditions like psoriasis or psoralen will have an increased risk of skin cancer.
General
- Older individuals have an increased risk of skin cancer due to accumulated exposure to UV radiation over the years.
- People with a weakened immune system.
- Males are at a greater risk than females.
Odds are you fall into one if not more of those categories, so it’s imperative that you take steps to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Wear sunscreen and clothes to protect your skin, reapply sunscreen regularly, and always check moles for changes in color or size. If you have a question about one of your moles, set up a visit with Dr. Koeplin today.
