Skin Cancer Risk Factors  

Skin cancer is a multifactorial disease; several factors may contribute to its development. The most common factors that are linked to the onset of skin cancer include:  

• Age - risk of skin cancer increases with age 
• exposure to ultraviolet light  
• family history of skin cancer  
• personal history of skin cancer  
• excessive sun exposure  
• previous radiotherapy 
• exposure to chemicals that irritate or attack your skin cells 
• history of sunburn  
• having many benign moles (dysplastic nevi) 
• chronic precancerous skin lesions such as rough and scaly patches  
• weakened immune system  
• certain professions such as welder and boilermakers 
• outdoor workers: farmers, construction workers, etc..  
• prolonged exposure to environmental chemicals such as herbicides  
• some genetic diseases of the skin: albinism, xeroderma pigmentosa, etc.. 
• Living at high altitudes or near the South Pole - the highest incidence of melanoma is found in Australia and New Zealand.

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