Squamous cell carcinoma: Who gets and causes

This skin cancer is most common in fair-skinned people who have spent years in the sun. But people of all skin colors get squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Your risk of developing SCC increases if you have any of the following risk factors:

Your physical traits

Pale or light-colored skin.

Blue, green, or gray eyes.

Blond or red hair.

An inability to tan.

What you’ve done

Spent a lot of time outdoors, for work or leisure, without using sunscreen or covering up with clothing.

Used tanning beds or sunlamps.

Been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals (e.g., arsenic in drinking water, tar, worked with some insecticides or herbicides).