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12 Things That Increase Your Risk For Skin Cancer  
JUST THE FACTS 

Tags: skin cancer, risk, prevention, health

With summer just around the corner, many people will be looking to get that coveted all over glow. However, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, so you might want to think twice before baking in the sun unprotected. While more than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by the sun, Glamour magazine compiled a list of other risk factors that can increase your chance of getting skin cancer.

1.	A family history of skin cancer If your parents, grandparents have had skin cancer, consider your odds "doubled or possibly even tripled," says Darrell Rigel, M.D.
2.	Sunburns or "binge tanning" in your past "Sunburns damage your DNA, causing harmful mutations that cna lead to cancer," says Robert J. Friedman, M.D.
3.	Freckles, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or red or blond hair Any one of these is a sign that you don't have much natural pigment in your skin, says Dr. Cohen. Scientists have even identified a "fair-and-freckled gene" that's a known link to melanoma, adds Leslie Baumann, M.D.
4.	Visiting tanning salons "People think, oh, I didn't lay out, I'm not at risk," says Dr. Friedman. But UVA light from tanning beds is much more intense than the sun's.
5.	Having more than 50 moles "One study found that about 25 percent of melanomas develop from regular moles, so there's an increased risk for melanoma just related to the number you have," says Suzanne Connollly, M.D.
6.	Living in a southern latitude or at a high altitude "In Arizona, Texas or Florida, the sun is reasonably brutal any time of the year," says Dr. Friedman. And, adds Dr. Cohen, "for every 1,000 feet you go up in altitude, your skin receives 4 percent more UV light"--one possible reason Colorado's melanoma rate is about a third higher than the national average.
7.	Participating in outdoor sports Competitive swimmer, golfers, cyclists and anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun have a higher risk, says Dr. Cohen.
8.	A scar "Even if it doesn't get much sun, it may be prone to squamous cell cancer," says Dr. Friedman.
9.	Smoking The carcinogens in cigarettes don't affect just your lungs--they can also raise you risk for non-melanoma skin cancers, says Martin Weinstock, M.D., Ph.D.
10.	Doing a lot of driving A recent study at Saint Louis University School of Medicine found that American dirvers who get behind the wheel frequently are more likely to develop skin cancers on the left side of their body.
11.	Certain medical conditions Human papillomavirus (not the strain that causes cervical cancer) has been linked to a squamous cell skin cancer. And there's also evidence that women who have had breast cancer get more skin cancers that other women.
12.	The Pill According to the American Cancer Society, oral contraceptives may increase skin cancer risk, possibly make women more photosensitive. Other researchers are investigating whether it impacts the immune system.

Lister: ListAfterList Wiki Contributors
Source: Glamour magazine

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