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Q: 

After you get a sunburn, how much higher does your skin cancer risk become?

By May 28, 2014 - 10:18am
 
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What about when you've had sunburns as a kid and adult?

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Hello saradietz,
That is an excellent and very timely question.
Quoting facts cited on the Skin Cancer Foundation's website, "a person's risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns."
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are two of the most common nonmelanoma skin cancers, are directly correlated with sun accumulation over many years.
Melanoma is believed to result from brief, intense exposure, such as a blistering sunburn, rather than years of tanning. Some studies now indicate that basal cell carcinoma may also be triggered by this exposure pattern.
Does this answer your question?
Regards,
Maryann

May 28, 2014 - 5:24pm
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