Skin Cancers and Their Risk Factors in Older Persons: A Population-Based Study

A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 552 participants aged 70 to 93 years found that 25.5% had skin cancer or its precursor, with a higher prevalence in males (34.5%) than females (20.2%). The risk of subsequent skin cancer was 2.6 times higher in individuals with a history of skin cancer, and nearly 2 times higher in males. Other risk factors included male sex, older age, higher socioeconomic status, and outdoor work. The study recommends total body skin examinations for older individuals, particularly males and those with a history of skin cancer. No association was found between Fitzpatrick’s skin type and skin cancers, possibly due to limited variability in skin types among the study participants. The study may have a selection bias as not all invited participants took part.