Who is at risk of skin cancer?
Who’s at risk?
Every single person in Australia has the possibility of developing skin cancer, but some people have a greater risk of doing so. If any of the following describe your physical appearance or personal history, be aware that your risk of developing skin cancer is increased.
Living in Australia
UV levels in Australia are higher and more severe than those in Europe. This is because we are located closer to the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica.
Another contributing factor is that Australia is closer to the sun during summer than Europe is during its summer, due to the earth’s orbit, consequently adding another 7% of UV intensity.
These factors, along with the fact that Australia has clearer atmospheric conditions means that we are exposed to much higher levels of UV radiation than Europeans.
Skin Type
People with a light or fair skin tone who burn easily or tan poorly have an increased risk of developing skin cancer, especially those with blond, red or light brown hair and blue, green or grey eyes. This is because their skin contains less melanin, the pigment in skin, which gives us our colour.
Having dark or olive skin adds to your natural protection against skin cancer because your skin produces more melanin. However, you must still protect yourself because the amount of UV radiation in Australia is so intense. Darker skinned people can still develop melanoma, especially on their hands, under their nails and on the soles of their feet.
Long-term sun exposure and sunburns
Skin cancer is strongly linked to UV radiation exposure. UV penetrates skin, which causes changes to cells that lead to sunburn, premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, spots, dry and leathery textured skin, DNA damage and skin cancer.
UV causes cancer through a cumulative process so the damage being done today may not be seen for years to come. The more your skin is exposed the greater the risk, even if your skin doesn’t burn.
Outdoor workers are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma, due to their years of prolonged exposure to the sun.
Family and personal history
The environment plays a vital role in the development of skin cancer, but some individuals can be born with a genetic predisposition or vulnerability to developing the disease.
Your skin type is genetic; if your parents have fair coloured skin then you will more than likely have fair skin also and therefore be at greater risk of developing skin cancer.
Recent research has identified certain mutations in some people’s genes, which play a role in the development of melanoma. Furthermore, about 10% of people who develop melanoma have family members who have also had the disease, indicating a probable genetic relationship.
You are also at increased risk if you have already had skin cancer or a pre-cancerous lesion. This is because you have probably had a lot of sun exposure in your past.
Moles and atypical moles
Almost everyone has a few moles. However, people with a larger number of moles have a greater risk of developing melanoma, especially if those moles are unusual in appearance. Unusual moles may be larger than normal (more than 5mm in diameter), irregular in shape, variable in colour, asymmetrical or raised.
Solariums
Solariums tan the skin by omitting both UVA and UVB and, the amount of UVA omitted can be up to 5 times more than natural sunlight. Both these types of radiation are hazardous to the skin. UVA penetrates the skin deeper than UVB and may cause even more damage.
There is also a suspected link with melanoma to UVA, so by using a solarium you may be putting yourself at greater risk of developing this deadly form of skin cancer.