FACTS

1. Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form.
2. The majority of melanoma cases are attributable to UV exposure.
3. Increasing intermittent sun exposure in childhood and during one’s lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.
4. Research suggests that regular sunscreen use with an SPF of 15 or higher reduces melanoma risk.
5. Sunburns during childhood or adolescence can increase the odds of developing melanoma later in life.
6. Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of all skin cancers, including melanoma, especially in women 45 and younger.
7. Risk factors for all types of skin cancer include skin that burns easily; blond or red hair; a history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns; tanning bed use; a weakened immune system; and a history of skin cancer.
8. People with more than 50 moles, atypical moles or large moles are at an increased risk of developing melanoma, as are those as are sun-sensitive individuals (e.g., those who sunburn easily, or have natural blond or red hair) and those with a personal or family history of melanoma.
9. Men and women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than people without a nonmelanoma skin cancer history.
10. Women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing breast and lung cancers.

STATS

• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
• More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
• Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
• When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.
• It is estimated that approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
• More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
• An estimated 1.8 million cases of SCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
• The latest figures suggest that more than 15,000 people die of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in the U.S. each year — more than twice as many as from melanoma.
• More than 5,400 people worldwide die of nonmelanoma skin cancer every month.