What may increase your risk for a problem from skin spots, growths, or bumps?

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What may increase your risk for a problem from skin spots, growths, or bumps?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

Conditions that increase your risk of skin cancer, such as:
- Actinic keratoses
- A history of scar formation
- A personal history of sunburns
- Cancer, especially a personal or family history of skin cancer
- Exposure to chemical pollution or X-ray radiation
- Physical characteristics including light-colored skin, blue eyes, blond or red hair, or a large number of abnormal moles
Pregnancy

Lifestyle choices

Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
Drug abuse or withdrawal
Spending lots of time in the sun
Using tanning beds or sunlamps
Smoking or other tobacco use

Medicines

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection

Diseases

Cancer
Diabetes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Lupus
Scleroderma

Credits

Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Last Updated	July 10, 2007

Last updated:	July 10, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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