While ultraviolet exposure and the environmental effect had long been linked to skin cancer, recent studies suggest the condition runs in families.

According to a study published in Journal of Investigative Dermatology, genes account for about half of the risks that an individual faces in developing the skin malignancy.

Individuals with a sibling or parent affected with a type of non-melanoma skin cancer are more vulnerable to developing skin cancers of various types, not just the ones their relatives had.

The familial influence is believed to be stronger among those with tumors located at body parts more exposed to the sun such as the face.

Compared to having a non-identical twin with melanoma, giving birth to an identical twin with the disease also increases an individual's risk of developing the skin disease by nearly 10-fold.

Scientists said family history can be used to assess an individual's possible risks of developing skin cancer.