Your risk of developing skin cancer at some point in your life is influenced by several factors. Some of these can be managed, while others are inherent. By identifying how susceptible you are to the disease, you can take the necessary precautions to protect your skin, as well as detect skin cancer at its earliest stage.
One of the most important factors to consider is skin type. This is typically categorized into six different levels. The lighter your skin, the higher your risk for developing cancer; the darker your skin, the lower your risk. This is because having more pigmentation provides a natural protection against the sun. While your skin color can indicate your level of vulnerability, you should still strive to be proactive to prevent skin cancer, despite your skin tone.
Other factors that impact your cancer risk include:
- Your history with sun exposure
- The environment in which you spend most of your time (like work or a hobby)
- Genetics (like fair skin or a family history of skin cancer)
- Medical conditions (having a suppressed immune system increases risk)
Schedule Your Appointment
No matter how high or low your risk of developing skin cancer is, our dermatologists stress the importance of self skin care examinations every month, as well as seeing a physician yearly for a professional skin exam. If you are suspicious of a mole or other spot on your body, or if you’d like to schedule a routine, full-body skin exam with one of our skin cancer professionals, please contact Sanova Dermatology today.