Skin cancer is a highly common type of cancer. Every year over 3 million cases of this dreadful disease are diagnosed. Majority of skin cancers are non-melanoma and if diagnosed at an early stage, this disease can be treated by a dermatologist through an outpatient procedure. Melanoma constitutes of approximately one percent of all skin cancers. However, it is responsible for over 90 percent of deaths related to skin cancer.

Skin cancer develops when the body is unable to repair damage to the DNA within the skin cells, thereby enabling the cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. Skin cell damage may be caused due to various factors such as skin type and genetics. However, in most instances, skin cancer occurs because of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light generated by the sun. Skin cancer may seem like a bump on the skin, a wound that does not heal, a lesion, or a dark spot.

There are different types of skin cancer. The type depends on the damaged skin cells. For instance, basal cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer. It occurs because of the damage caused to basal cells that are located just under the surface of the skin. Conversely, squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer of the cells on the skin’s surface. Squamous cells make up the inner lining of hollow organs like kidneys.

The core risk factor for non-melanoma and melanoma cancers is exposure to harmful UV rays, through tanning beds and sunlight, wherein the risk increases with the amount of exposure. People who spend a lot of time outdoors, without applying any sunscreen or wearing any protective clothing are at a higher risk. In addition, people who reside in locations that have bright sunlight throughout the year have a higher possibility of contracting this disease. Also, people who have had an early exposure to frequent sunburns during their childhood are at a higher risk to get skin cancer. Apart from exposure to UV rays and sunburns, listed below are a few general risk factors of skin cancer.

1. Age

The risk of skin cancer increases as a person grows older. This is due to accumulated exposure to UV radiation. However, skin cancers may also be detected in younger people who spend the majority of time in the sun. Regular sunburns, particularly those that occurred during childhood, increase the chances of developing melanoma.

2. Gender

Men are more likely to develop certain types of skin cancers as compared to women. According to statistics, men have the probability to develop squamous cell carcinomas three times more than women. They also have the chance to develop basal cell carcinomas approximately two times more as compared to women.

3. Immune suppression

Conditions that weaken the immune system, such as immune suppression therapy that is related to organ transplantation or viruses, may increase the risk of skin cancer.