Table | Stanford Health Care

1 Did You Know?
1 The combination of higher altitude and UV rays reflected by snow puts skiers and snowboarders at an increased risk of sun damage, and ultimately skin cancer. UV radiation exposure increases 4 to 5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level. The farther above sea level, the greater the risk of sun-induced skin damage. Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the UV light from the sun, meaning that you are often hit by the same rays twice. Up to 80 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate clouds. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancers. But it causes most skin cancer deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States has been increasing for at least 30 years. Overall, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1,000 for blacks, and 1 in 200 for Hispanics. Unlike many other common cancers, melanoma occurs in both younger and older people.

The combination of higher altitude and UV rays reflected by snow puts skiers and snowboarders at an increased risk of sun damage, and ultimately skin cancer.
UV radiation exposure increases 4 to 5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level. The farther above sea level, the greater the risk of sun-induced skin damage.
Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the UV light from the sun, meaning that you are often hit by the same rays twice.
Up to 80 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate clouds.
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancers. But it causes most skin cancer deaths.
The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States has been increasing for at least 30 years.
Overall, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1,000 for blacks, and 1 in 200 for Hispanics. Unlike many other common cancers, melanoma occurs in both younger and older people.