SkinDerm | Skin Cancer - Should You Be Concerned?

Who gets skin cancer?

More women than men get skin cancer. It is the most common cancer. Diagnoses of skin cancer are rising at alarming rates. It is more common in the UK than Australia.
It is rare in children under 14 years, but after the age of 15 it rises steadily with age (this is thought to be due to the cumulative effect of the action of Ultraviolet rays on the skin over time).

Moles

Some people have more moles than others. The more moles you have, the higher the risk of skin cancer. It does not necessarily mean you will get skin cancer if you have lots of moles, but does indicate that you should pay particular attention to your skin and be especially careful about exposing it to the sun.

The sun

People with fair skins, particularly fair or red hair are more at risk of skin cancer. It is the most common cancer, affecting both men and women. Those with darker skins have slightly more protection from the disease, but can still get it. If you are fair and have a tendency to freckle in the sun you are most at risk.

Sunburn

If you have a tendency to sun burn you are at more than average risk of skin cancer. Those most at risk are those who do not tan at all, the fairest people, and those who go red and then peel before getting a tan.

There is a definite link between sunburn and Skin cancer. People with skin cancer are twice as likely to have been badly sunburned at least once in their lives. The risk is higher if you have had sunburn several times in your life. Sunburn in childhood is even more damaging than sunburn as an adult.

Skin type

Fair skinned people who were born in a very sunny country. More women than men get skin cancer - remove
It is the most common cancer, affecting both men and women such as Australia or Israel have an increased risk of skin cancer for life, compared to those who went to live there later, or those with a similar skin colour born in cooler climates. Your skin would have been exposed to the sun when at its most delicate. This doesn't necessarily mean you will get skin cancer, but just that you need to pay particular attention to your skin.

Sun exposure

In the UK, most of us are not exposed to the sun most of the time. For those of us that go abroad for two or three weeks a year in search of a tan, you are more at risk of skin cancer than being in the sun all the time.

Sunbathing at home may be as harmful as abroad, as we do occasionally have hot spells for which we may be unprepared, with the lack of adequate sun protection.

Sunbeds

Evidence shows that sunbeds are a particular risk factor for skin cancer (despite many manufacturers trying to reassure you to the contrary). The type of Ultraviolet rays used in sunbeds can cause skin cancer. Sunbed use is a definite risk factor for skin cancer. Anyone who uses a sunbed increases their risk of skin cancer, particularly if you use it more often, for longer or at an earlier age.

Family history

If you have a close relative that has had skin cancer, you are more at risk yourself. This is particularly if you have a familial tendency to having large numbers of moles, which may or may not look abnormal. Some cases of skin cancer may be due to inherited defective genes (how your body is made), this is currently undergoing much investigation, and for these groups of people, the importance of sun protection is paramount.

Information from Cancer Research UK