"Skin-cancer and sun-damaged appearances are the result of the interaction of sun, time and genes." The website author's quote is told to his patients several times a week in response to various questions. More specifically: SUN (or other radiation exposure) + TIME (age of patient and time of sun or other radiation exposure) + GENES (from all sides of the family as well as mutations).

In other words, skin-cancer formation is the result of the interplay between a patient's genetics and the patient's environment, i.e., the environment means how much sun, at what age, how long, how intense, how many burns, how much was reflected, how much protectant and how much tanning lotion was used, among other factors. The patient's genetics may be seen not only in the color of the skin and how dark the patient tans, but in the genetic make-up of the patient's immune system, among other factors.

As a case in point, Dr. Weber has had the rare opportunity to treat four separate, non-related, Native Americans who have grown basal-cell carcinomas. Each was tan and of high-numbered (dark) skin type. But each was 1/4 to 1/8 Irish. What a powerful skin cancer gene the Irish carry!

Some traits that also go with skin color are eye and hair color. Blue-eyed blondes have a high chance of cataracts at a younger age than most and sunglasses are recommended.

Please note the following table of skin types and colors. Reduce or avoid sun as much as possible if your category is in the lighter of the types. Remember that a pink, "healthy," "just returned from Florida after spring break" look is bad if you are in the lighter types.