Risk Factors

You are likely to develop a type of skin cancer if:

Having light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair

Long-term, daily sun exposure (such as in people who work outside)

Many severe sunburns early in life
Older age

Having had many x-ray

Chemical exposure
Have fair skin, blue or green eyes, or red or blond hair

Live in sunny climates or at high altitudes

Spent a lot of time in high levels of strong sunlight, because of a job or other activities

Have had one or more blistering sunburns during childhood

Use tanning devices Other risk factors include:

Close relatives with a history of melanoma

Certain types of moles (atypical or dysplastic) or multiple birthmarks

Weakened immune system due to disease or medication