There are a variety of things that increase your risk of getting skin cancer:
- fair skin
- light colored eyes
- blonde or red hair
- history of sun exposure
- excessive sun exposure
- sunny/high altitude climates
- moles
- precancerous skin lesions
- family/personal history of skin cancer
- increasing age
10% of melanoma patients die from it each year.
About 10% of all Americans use tanning beds.
One severe sunburn during childhood doubles a person's chance of developing skin cancer later in life.
Less than 1/2 of teenagers use sunscreen.
Teenagers are at a higher risk than adults because their skin cells are dividing more quickly than those of adults.
About 2.3 million teens visit the tanning bed at least once a year.
The first time someone is exposed to the tanning bed, it increases their chances of developing melanoma by 75%.
Many tanning salons now require parental consent for anyone under 18 to use their tanning facilities. Also, some states have banned anyone under 14 from using a public tanning salon.
In the UK, teens under 18 are completely banned from using tanning beds. Tanning salons that allow minors to tan could be fined up to $30,000.
