Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, affecting more than one million Australians each year. While anyone can develop skin cancer, some people are at a significantly higher risk due to factors such as UV exposure, age, skin type and family history.
Understanding your risk factors is an important step in protecting your skin and detecting skin cancer early, when treatment is often simpler and more successful.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer in Australia.
UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, and this damage builds up over time. Whether you're working outdoors, playing sport, gardening or simply going about your day, regular sun exposure can increase your risk.
People who work outdoors can receive significantly more UV exposure than indoor workers, putting them at a much higher risk of developing skin cancer.
People with fair skin are generally more susceptible to UV damage.
You may be at increased risk if you have:
This is because fair skin contains less melanin, which provides some natural protection from UV radiation.
A history of sunburns, particularly severe or blistering sunburns, can increase your risk of skin cancer.
Sunburn causes direct damage to skin cells, and repeated damage over time can increase the likelihood of cancerous changes developing later in life.
Skin cancer can run in families.
If a close family member has been diagnosed with melanoma or another type of skin cancer, your own risk may be higher. This can be due to inherited genetic factors, shared skin characteristics or similar sun exposure habits.
For many Australians, their 40s are when the effects of decades of sun exposure begin to appear.
If you've spent years enjoying the outdoors, playing sport or working in the sun, accumulated UV damage may start to show as new spots, pigmentation changes or precancerous lesions.
Skin cancer diagnoses become increasingly common during your 50s.
By this stage, years of UV exposure have often taken their toll, making regular skin checks particularly important. People in this age group may also notice more sun spots and areas of sun-damaged skin.
Australians aged 60 and over experience some of the highest rates of skin cancer diagnosis.
This is due to a lifetime of cumulative UV exposure combined with the body's reduced ability to repair damaged skin cells. Skin cancers commonly develop on frequently exposed areas such as the face, ears, scalp, neck and hands.
Your immune system plays an important role in identifying and removing abnormal cells.
People with weakened immune systems, including organ transplant recipients and those taking immunosuppressive medications, have a higher risk of developing skin cancer and may require more frequent skin monitoring.
Additional factors that may increase your risk include:
The more risk factors you have, the more important regular skin checks become.
While some risk factors cannot be changed, there are several ways to reduce your risk of skin cancer:
Anyone can develop skin cancer, but understanding your personal risk factors can help you make informed decisions about prevention and early detection.
If you notice a new spot, a changing mole or a lesion that won't heal, book a professional skin check. Early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes.