HOW AT-RISK ARE YOU FOR SKIN
CANCER?
Page 1 of 1
One in five Americans will develop skin
cancer. How at risk are you? Take this Skin Cancer Quiz written
by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) to help you determine your
risk for developing skin cancer:
credit:
click here (large file)
|
Risk Level Results:
10-15: below average risk
16-22: average risk
23-25: high risk
26-30: very high risk |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recognize six skin categories. Check
out which one fits you best. The top of the table (skin categories I and
II) are the MOST AT RISK for skin cancer, and the bottom of the table (skin
categories V and VI) are least at risk. No matter what skin category you
fall into, it is extremely important that you always shield yourself from
the sun with SPF 15 or higher. Anyone can develop skin cancer regardless
of what skin category they fall into, so take care of yourself. Skin
cancer is a real risk - 44,000 Americans develop melanoma,
the deadliest form of skin cancer, every single year. Everyone is at
risk. 80% of the sun exposure you'll have in your entire life occurs
before age 18 - NOW is the time you need to start protecting yourself!
skin category |
sun history |
examples |
SPF to use |
I |
Always burns easily,
never tans, extremely sun-sensitive skin |
Red-headed, freckles,
Irish/Scots/Welsh |
20-30+ |
II |
Always burns easily,
tans minimally, very sun sensitive skin |
Fair-skinned,
fair-haired, blue-eyed, Caucasians |
20-30+ |
III |
Sometimes burns,
tans gradually to light brown, sun sensitive skin |
Average
skin |
15+ |
IV |
Burns minimally,
always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun
sensitive |
Mediterranean-type
Caucasians |
15+ |
V |
Rarely burns, tans
well, sun insensitive skin |
Middle Eastern, some
Hispanics, some African-Americans |
15+ |
VI |
Never burns, deeply
pigmented, sun insensitive skin |
African-Americans |
15+ |
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY SUGGESTS
THAT A SUNSCREEN WITH AN SPF OF AT LEAST 15 SHOULD BE USED
YEAR-ROUND.
for more information:
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/risk.html
http://www.skincancer.org/faq/index.php
The American Academy of Dermatology provided
us with information for this article. You can reach them at
http://www.aad.org |
