Know The Causes & Risk Factors – cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)
It is important to know the causes and/or risk factors of developing cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC).
Physical Traits – Having fair skin, blond or red hair, light-coloured eyes, or freckling.
Older Population – cSCC is most often diagnosed in the older population due to years of accumulated sun damage, along with weakened immune systems. It is more common in men, likely due to unprotected UV damage to the skin.
UV Rays – The use of tanning beds and bulbs, time spent outdoors (exposed to the sun’s UV rays), a history of sunburns or suntanning, and people who work outdoors are also at higher risk.
Exposure– Having long-term exposure to cancer-causing chemical (such as arsenic in the water) are at higher risk.
Medical History – A history of precancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis or Bowen’s disease), a history of skin cancer, a weakened immune system (including having HPV, HIV, or AIDS, or having undergone organ transplants), being exposed to radiation, or having a rare genetic disorder called xeroderma pigmentosum, which causes an extreme sensitivity to sunlight.
The leading cause of cSCC is excessive UV ray exposure from either the sun or tanning beds.
Learn about sun safety and the risk of tanning beds.