Who is at greatest risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer?
Some genetic and lifestyle factors increase the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer. These include: • Fair skin. • Being male. • Family or personal history of skin cancer. • Chronic UV light exposure. This includes exposure to the sun as well as tanning beds or sunlamps. People who live in the southern part of the U.S. or in higher elevations have more exposure to UV radiation than others. • Sunburns early in life. Multiple blistering sunburns during youth put people at high risk. • Precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratoses. • Long-term exposure to certain chemicals (such as arsenic, coal, paraffin, tar and some oils). • Radiation treatment for other types of cancer. • Long-term or severe skin inflammation or injury. • Certain psoriasis treatments. • Weak immune system. • Smoking (for squamous cell skin cancer). Identifying nonmelanoma skin cancer Skin cancer is most treatable and curable when it is discovered early. Nonmelanoma may look like: • A firm red nodule • An open sore that
