Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer - Weekly Q&A

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This weeks Q & A with Dr. Darrell, we look at which skin type is most likely to develop skin cancer?

A. Very white skin that always burns and will barely tan.
B. Olive skin tones
C. Dark skin.

There have been some interesting studies that show that people in high sun-exposure jobs have less skin cancer than those who sit in offices all day.  It appears sun exposure itself is far from the whole story.  A family history of melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer) along with a very fair skin tone put you at higher risk.  

There may be some selection bias in that people who burn easily are not attracted to jobs with high degrees of sun exposure. So before we start saying sun exposure is protective of skin cancer we have to keep that in mind.  

Skin tones are separated into six types from very white (always burns) to black skin (always tans).  The very white skin is more prone to skin cancer so some form of protection from the sun seems to more important in those people.  

Yours in Health,  Dr D

Posted In: Health Tips Dr. Darrell's Blog Weekly Q & A with Dr. Darrell