{"id":1306,"date":"2023-01-04T22:56:28","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T22:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/students\/?page_id=1306"},"modified":"2023-10-20T14:27:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T14:27:03","slug":"risk-factors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/students\/student-wellness-resources\/sun-safety-and-skin-cancer-prevention\/risk-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"Risk Factors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A risk factor is anything that increases your likelihood of developing a disease like cancer. When it comes to skin cancer risk factors, many of these risks can be addressed by you.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Sunburn<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Sunburn <\/strong>hurts you in more ways than one. The danger goes far beyond any short-term pain, redness and discomfort, because after the sunburn fades, lasting damage remains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of\u00a0basal cell carcinoma<\/a>,\u00a0squamous cell carcinoma<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0melanoma<\/a>, the deadliest form of\u00a0skin cancer<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tanning\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Tanning<\/strong>\u00a0outside or indoors can have dangerous consequences. While often associated with good health, the \u201cglow\u201d of a tan is the very opposite of healthy; it\u2019s evidence of DNA injury to your skin. Tanning damages your skin cells and speeds up visible signs of aging. Worst of all, tanning can lead to\u00a0skin cancer<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fact:\u00a0<\/strong>There is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan. Tanning increases your risk of\u00a0basal cell carcinoma<\/a>,\u00a0squamous cell carcinoma<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0melanoma<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your best defense is to\u00a0avoid tanning altogether<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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