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Skin Cancer, Melanoma - What Increases Your Risk

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What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for melanoma include:4

  • Exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
    • Blistering sunburns at any time of life
    • Intense sun exposure, every now and then
  • Skin characteristics.
    • Fair skin that doesn't tan and tends to sunburn or freckle
    • Numerous moles and/or more than one atypical mole
    • A large mole you had since birth
  • Eye or hair color.
    • Blue or green eyes
    • Red or blond hair
  • A personal or family history of melanoma.
  • Certain gene changes.
  • Xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease.

Treatment with the combination of a psoralen and UVA light (PUVA) may raise the risk of melanoma.1 PUVA is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Last Updated: 12/05/2008

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