Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is a health risk that accounts for more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Looking at this sobering statistic another way, it is estimated that one American dies from melanoma almost every hour.  That is amazing!

In a study conducted by Dr. Rigel and a colleague at NYU Medical Center he concluded the following are risk factors for melanoma.  Some of them were previously identified in prior studies. What are the six factors?

1.    History of blistering sunburns as a teenager

2.    Red or blonde hair

3.    Marked freckling of the upper back - a sign of excessive sun exposure and that a person is susceptible to it

4.    Family history of melanoma

5.    History of Actinic Keratoses (AKs) - considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer

6.    Outdoor summer jobs for three or more years as a teenager

So if you have any one of these six factors, your melanoma risk goes up to about a twofold to threefold increase over the general population - or roughly a 3 percent to 5 percent lifetime risk of developing melanoma with any one of those factors.

An individual with two or more of these factors, the risk goes up to a five to 10 times increased lifetime risk of melanoma over the general population. In addition, those with any three or more of these six factors have up to a 10 to 20 times increased risk of developing melanoma.

So this gives even more reason to cover up and where sunscreen even on cloudy days.