Risk factors 1 may include exposures that directly damage the skin causing the changes in dna gene mutations that can lead to cancer developing other factors such as immune suppression can reduce the ability of the body to repair cells after damage occurs the importance of specific risk factors can vary based on skin type and more. A family history of skin cancer if one of your parents or a sibling has had skin cancer you may have an increased risk of the disease a personal history of skin cancer if you developed skin cancer once youre at risk of developing it again a weakened immune system people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of developing skin cancer this includes people living with hiv aids and those taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant. Regular skin examinations may help identify a developing skin cancer early when it is most treatable common skin cancer risk factors include general age skin cancer risks increase as you age which is likely due to accumulated exposure to uv radiation but skin cancers may also be found in younger individuals who spend a lot of time in the sun frequent sunburns especially when they occurred during childhood increases the risk of developing melanoma. While exposure to the suns harmful ultraviolet uv rays is the top cause of skin cancer youre not necessarily in the clear just because you didnt spend your teenage years living in a tanning. Your treatment options for skin cancer and the precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses will vary depending on the size type depth and location of the lesions small skin cancers limited to the surface of the skin may not require treatment beyond an initial skin biopsy that removes the entire growth