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The Connection Between Age and Skin Cancer Risk

posted: Nov. 05, 2024.

Skin-Cancer-Screening-for-Senior-Patient


Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but it is highly preventable and treatable. There is a correlation between increased risk of developing skin cancer and aging. To learn more about the risk factors that may increase with your age or lifestyle, you should consult with the team at Central Dermatology Center. We provide professional skin cancer consultation and treatment throughout the Triangle. We have office locations in Cary, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, Raleigh, and Sanford.  

How Does Age Affect Skin Cancer? 

One of the ways that age correlates with skin cancer risk is how much sun exposure the skin has had over your lifetime. If you have spent decades enjoying activities in the sun without proper protection, your skin has been affected by UV rays for a long time.  Sun damage is cumulative and every minute you are unprotected in the sun adds to the sun damage that you have already developed. Sun exposure increases the risk of cancer, which is why it becomes more common in older people. 

How Can You Prevent This Disease? 

Regardless of age, you should protect your skin from direct sun exposure, especially when the UV rays are most potent. The sun's UV rays are most powerful between 10 AM and 2 PM. Therefore, you should either avoid being outside or ensure you have proper protection by way of UPF long-sleeved clothing, driving gloves, wide brimmed hats, as well as a sunscreen SPF of 30 or above that you reapply every 60-80 minutes. If you live in an area with intense sun, you can also further protect yourself at home and in cars by tinting windows. It is important to catch and treat skin cancers early so get your annual screening for skin cancer at one of Central Dermatology Center’s many locations. We treat patients throughout the Triangle area of NC with office locations in Cary, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, Raleigh, and Sanford. 

Tags: Skin Cancer,  Skin Cancer Screening