Blonds Have More Skin Cancer

Blonds and redheads are three times more likely to develop skin cancer, as are those who worked jobs outside through their teenage years, the Age reports. A new study has identified six factors that increase the likelihood of developing a melanoma, which also includes a significantly freckled upper back. For people with more than one factor, the risk is 10 times higher than for the general population.

Frequent blistering sunburns during the teenage years were also identified as a factor by the study, as was a family history of melanoma and a history of scaly patches on areas of skin exposed to the sun. The research director warned that melanomas can appear at any time.
(More skin cancer stories.)