 Normal Skin |
Several risk factors increase the chance of getting skin cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. There are two types of ultraviolet radiation – UVA and UVB. UVB rays are more likely to cause sunburn, but UVA rays pass farther into the skin. Scientists have long thought that UVB radiation can cause skin cancer. They now think UVA radiation also many add to skin damage that can lead to cancer. For this reason, skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that block both kinds of UV radiation.
Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can also cause skin cancer. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is the greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily, often those with red or blond hair and blue or light colored eyes.
The risk of developing skin cancer is also affected by where a person lives. People who live in areas that get high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to get skin cancer.
In addition, skin cancer is related to a lifetime exposure to UV radiation. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin at an early age. Therefore, the protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life.
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. It accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. More than one million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 55,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States during 2005.
