Anyone can develop skin cancer, but people with fair complexions are at most risk for developing precancerous skin conditions and skin cancer.

Risk factors for skin cancer include:

• personal history of skin cancer or precancerous skin lesions (actinic keratoses)
• tendency to freckle or burn easily
• lots of sun exposure throughout your life
• many sunburns as a child or adolescent
• family history of skin cancer (such as melanoma) or conditions that are more likely to develop into skin cancer (such as dysplastic nevus syndrome or numerous atypical moles)
• chronic, non-healing wounds or burn injuries
• history of radiation therapy
• exposure to toxic materials, such as arsenic
• exposure to certain subtypes of human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV 6,11,16,18 have been linked to the development of squamous cell carcinoma, especially in patients with compromised immune systems
• organ transplant patients on immunosuppressant drugs

Since the effects of sun exposure add up, the risk of developing skin cancer increases as you get older. The majority of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18 and skin cancer can take 20 years or more to develop. Therefore, you need to be concerned about skin cancer whether your sun bathing days are over, or you still spend time pursuing the perfect tan. According to the American Cancer Society, very young children who experience as few as two to three sunburns may have an increased risk of developing skin cancer later in life. It has been estimated that regular application of sunscreen with sun protection factor of 15 or greater for the first 18 years of life would reduce the lifetime incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers by 78%.

People with a large number of moles may have a higher risk of developing skin cancer, particularly if there is a family history of melanoma (cancer of pigment producing cells). Patients with many moles should be evaluated by their primary care physician or by a Dermatologist for a baseline screening exam. If any of your moles meet the ABCDE criteria or have been changing, have these moles evaluated in a timely manner.

Skin cancer risk factors can be additive. Those individuals with multiple risk factors are at highest risk for developing skin cancer. Anyone in a high-risk group should take extra precautions against skin cancer and talk with their primary care physician or dermatologist about regular full body screening exams.