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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
AuthorSydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
EditorSusan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate EditorLila Havens
Associate EditorTracy Landauer
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerRandall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
Last UpdatedJuly 8, 2009

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 08, 2009
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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