Fair complexion and risk of malignant melanoma of the skin based on experience from the Danish Cancer Registry.

Our Danish study shows that many pigmented naevi, a tendency to freckle and light hair colours are significant, important, and independent host factors which increase the risk of development of malignant melanoma of the skin. These results are in line with what has been consistently shown in previous and in more recent case-control studies. Light hair colour may be a measure of light complexion. The finding that individuals with a large number of naevi, a tendency to freckle and a sensitive skin constitute a risk group may be of importance. Such individuals could be warned about signs of early melanoma development and be instructed to avoid excessive sun exposure, especially damaging sunburn, with the aim of reducing melanoma mortality and melanoma incidence, respectively.