Skin Cancer, Melanoma
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Skin Cancer, Melanoma
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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.
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Last Updated:
December 5, 2008- Author:
- Bets Davis, MFA
- Medical Review:
- Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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