Resource Library

The overall level of UV light reaching the Earth's surface is increasing because our planet's atmospheric ozone layer, which filters out much of the UV radiation, is thinning over certain parts of the globe. "The greatest hazard humans face from the effects of ozone depletion is skin cancer," according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a non-profit group that raises research funds and educates the public and medical community about skin cancer.

The beach, poolside and golf course are not the only places where you need sun protection; UV radiation can pierce your car window and damage your skin as you drive. Sun exposure also can damage facial skin in winter when you go skiing or sledding.

Development of sun-induced skin cancer is a very slow process. Research suggests that long-term exposure to UV radiation raises your skin cancer risk visibly through sunburn and invisibly by damaging the DNA in skin cells.

While up to 90 percent of all skin cancers are thought to stem from the sun's UV radiation, other factors also can cause skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society:

• Chemical exposure: Exposure to arsenic, a heavy metal used in making some insecticides, increases the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. Occupational exposure to industrial tar, coal, paraffin and certain types of oil also may increase the non-melanoma skin cancer risk.
• Radiation exposure: Radiation therapy may increase the risk of a non-melanoma skin cancer.
• Long-term or severe skin inflammation or injury: In rare cases, non-melanoma skin cancers grow in scars from severe burns, on areas of skin over severe bone infections, and on skin damaged by certain severe inflammatory skin diseases.
• Psoriasis treatment: Patients treated with the drug psoralen and ultraviolet light (PUVA) may have an elevated risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
• Xeroderma pigmentosum: This very rare hereditary disease makes it difficult for the skin to repair DNA damaged by UV light. Xeroderma pigmentosum patients typically suffer many skin cancers, which may begin in childhood.
• Basal cell nevus syndrome: People born with this rare condition develop multiple basal cell carcinomas and other health problems.
• Reduced immunity: People whose immune system is diminished because of HIV infection, drugs that prevent rejection of donor organs, or chemotherapy are at increased risk for non-melanoma skin cancer.

External Resources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Skin Cancer Foundation American Cancer Society

This article was published on 1999-11-05
This article was reviewed on 2003-02-03