- The overarching cause of skin cancer is overexposure to the sun. Just what level of exposure might be considered overexposure varies from person to person. Common sense comes into play here. Routinely getting sunburned is a good indication that one's exposure to sunlight has exceeded healthy levels. Even if one isn't getting sunburned, exposure still risks skin cancer. The sun sends ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays into the skin; over time, this can cause cancer to develop, often in multiple places.
- If possible, tanning booths should be avoided, especially if one's family has a history of skin cancer. Tanning booth businesses regularly advertise that their booths are "harmless" or use "safe" UVA rays, but the truth is that skin is damaged--and at risk of cancer--by exposure to both UVA and UVB rays. In fact, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays, despite the fact that they take longer to effect the skin.
- Certain factors increase one's risk of developing skin cancer, especially if one neglects to avoid too much unnecessary exposure to the sun. These factors include pale skin, blond or red hair, working a lot out of doors, having played out in the sun frequently during childhood, a family history of skin cancer and light eyes.
- An important part of preventing skin cancer involves being on the lookout for new moles. This is especially true after age 30, by which time the human body is typically finished creating new moles. As a rule, new moles should be brought to the attention of a doctor, especially after age 30.
