11 Risk Factors of Skin Cancer You Shouldn’t Turn a Blind Eye To

Skin cancer is essentially identified as the abnormal growth of skin cells which every so often comes into being on skin bared to direct sunlight. However, skin cancer, being one of cancer’s commonest forms can also engender in specific areas of your skin which aren’t usually exposed to sunlight.

Here we talk about 11 distinct factors as put forward by a specialist from the best cancer hospital in Chandigarh, which exhibit a propensity to heighten your risk to contract skin cancer.  They include the following.

1. Fair skin  Anyone, irrespective of the color of the skin may pick up cancer.  However, if your skin has less melanin (skin pigment) it offers less protection from the harmful UV rays of sunlight. 

As said by a dermatologist in Panchkula, if your skin develops sunburn or freckles quickly, you’re more predisposed to catching skin cancer than a person with a darker skin tone.

2. Excessive sun exposure  Anyone spending extensive time in direct sunlight may contract skin cancer, in particular, if there’s no shield against damaging UV rays either with sunscreen or clothing.  The practice of tanning which includes intentional exposure to tanning beds or lamps also makes you susceptible to the risks of skin cancer.  A tan, according to a dermatologist in Chandigarh,is generally your skin’s response to an injury inflicted by too much exposure to UV radiation. 

3. A history of sunburns  If during your childhood or adolescence, you encountered one or multiple blistering sunburns, your risks of falling ill with skin cancer as an adult increases.  Even catching sunburns in adulthood also happens to be a potential risk factor.

4. Sunny or high-altitude climates  People who are accustomed to sunny, warm climes remainunprotected from direct sunlight exposure and develop risks of falling sick with skin cancer.

 Even for people who live on higher altitudes where the impact of sunlight is most intense, the proneness to more exposure to UV radiation and subsequent skin cancer amplifies.

5. Precancerous skin lesions  As per a skin cancer specialist from a top hospital in Chandigarh, developing skin lacerations called actinic keratoses can raise your risk of getting struck down with skin cancer.  Typically, these precancerous skin tags have the appearance of rough, flaky patches with colors ranging from brown to dark pink.  They’re most commonly found on the head, face, or hands of fair-skinned people having damaged skin owing to sunburn.

6. Moles  People having many moles or abnormal moles known as dysplastic nevi, on their body, show increased risks of skin cancer.

 These atypical moles which have irregular and larger appearance than normal moles are more likely to become cancerous.  In case you’ve got a history of abnormal moles, keep a watchful eye on them regularly for any visible changes.

7. A personal history of skin cancer  On the word of a dermatologist from a top cancer hospital in Chandigarh, if you already have suffered from skin cancer once, you have a tendency to get it developed again.

8. A family history of skin cancer  Given that your parents or siblings have had skin cancer, you’re more receptive at catching the disease.

9. A compromised immune system  People who have got a weakened immune system exhibit a higher risk to develop skin cancer.  People, who are surviving with HIV/AIDS or on immunosuppressant medications post organ transplantation at a multispecialty hospital in Chandigarh, are also prone to succumbing to skin cancer.

10. Contact with certain substances  Widespread exposure to high poisonous substances like arsenic may step up your risks to get skin cancer.

11. Exposure to radiation  Patients who have undergone radiotherapy treatment for other skin conditions, for instance, acne and eczema, are at heightened risk of going down with skin cancer, especially basal cell carcinoma.

At Paras Hospital Panchkula, our expert team of doctors including medical oncologists, surgeons, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, pathologists,and radiation oncologists will work jointly with you in reviewing all theskin cancer treatment options on hand and choosethe treatment that fulfills your needs perfectly.

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