Skin cancer: causes
What causes skin cancer?
We know the answer to that question. Most skin cancers are caused by the sun, or rather, by a particular kind of ray from the sun called ultraviolet (UV) radiation. You can’t see or feel UV radiation. It’s not the sunlight you can see (that’s called visible light), and it’s not the rays you feel as warmth (which are called infra-red radiation). UV radiation is also produced artificially in solariums (sunbeds or tanning booths).
In Australia we have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. This is because we have so much sunshine and because many Australians are light-skinned.
You can’t catch skin cancer from someone else, or give it to someone else.
Who is at risk?
Anyone can develop skin cancer, but some people are at higher risk than others.
You may be at higher risk if you:
- have a lot of moles;
- have a close relative who has had melanoma;
- are aged over 50 (particularly if you have had a lot of sun exposure and/or been sunburnt in the past);
- experience infrequent but intense exposure to the sun (e.g. office workers who spend a lot of time in the sun or get sunburnt on weekends or on holidays)
- have had skin cancer in the past;
- have skin that is fair, burns easily, freckles and doesn’t easily tan;
- have red or fair hair and blue or green eyes; or
- have a compromised immune system (this could be due to taking certain drugs after an organ transplant or being HIV positive).
Almost one out of every 2 people who live in Australia all their lives will get skin cancer of one sort or another.
The older you get, the greater your chances of getting skin cancer. But melanoma is also a common cancer in younger people and sometimes even teenagers are diagnosed.
People who get sunburnt easily and don’t tan are more at risk (although a dark skin isn’t a complete protection — dark-skinned people can get skin cancer).
For further information and advice, call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20.
Last Reviewed: 01 August 2006
