Causes Risk Factors Prevention Types Treatment Side Effect of Treatment Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Each year in the United States, about a million people are diagnosed with skin cancer. According to estimates, up to half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer.
Experts agree that skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged by external factors.
By far the greatest culprit is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This cellular damage can develop into cancer. Artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation, like tanning beds, have the same effect. Skin cancer is on the rise across the world. Scientists believe that the thinning of the ozone layer is partly to blame for this increase.