Dr Eugene Tan About Skin

Could a sunburn cause skin cancer?

Yes– especially if it occurred frequently during many years.
The most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma. While many factors can cause skin cancer such as genetic (hereditary) syndromes, arsenic and immune suppression; the most common cause is ultraviolet radiation.
In fact, ultraviolet radiation is a Category 1 (highest possible category) carcinogen (cancer-causing-agent). This means that prolonged exposure to the sun will cause skin cancer and tanning beds/ sunbeds will cause skin cancer.
Sunburn occurs when the skin is burned by ultraviolet radiation. Keratinocytes (skin cells) die and an inflammatory response follows. A lifetime of constant sun exposure and sunburns will increase your risk. There is often a delay between sun exposure and the development of skin cancer. For instance, in basal cell carcinomas, up to 10 years could lapse before the skin cancer develops. In other cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, the time may be shorter. Early detection could save your life. Your dermatologist is your best source of information for questions and concerns relating to your skin; and is skilled in detection of skin cancers.