The number one cause of melanoma is excessive UV radiation exposure. UV radiation can come from the sun, sun lamps, and sun beds. This radiation can mutate our genetic material (DNA), leading to skin cancers. However, there are other melanoma causes and risk factors as well.
Understanding the Various Melanoma Causes and Risk Factors:
Some of the risk factors for this type of cancer include:
– Skin type – those with fair skin, fair or red hair, freckles, and blue eyes are more likely to be affected.
– Those with more than 100 moles, or with irregular shaped and/or large moles
– Those with a compromised immune system
– Those with a melanoma family history
Melanoma Risks:
As the main melanoma causes and risk factors are related to UV radiation, it is important to enhance your understanding about this. While the sun is a natural source of UV radiation, you should not completely avoid it, as you also need sun exposure for vitamin D production. On the other hand, you must limit it, and be properly protected. This is particularly important if you also have some of the risk factors.
If your skin is fair and your hair is as well, and you have freckles and blue eyes, it is likely you have increased sun sensitivity. You will usually burn when out in the sun, and this further increases your risk. If your skin is naturally dark (black or brown), your risk is reduced, but it doesn't mean you can't get it.
Moles And Freckles:
Moles and freckles are also important. If you have more than 100, you are at an increased risk of developing the cancer. If your moles are larger than the average, or if their color or shape is irregular, you also have a greater risk. These moles are referred to as atypical dysplastic naevi. It is rare for them to become a melanoma, but you should check them to make sure they're not changing. Atypical moles and having many moles tends to run in the family. Additionally, hairy, dark moles present at birth, as well as congenital naevi (a birthmark that is larger than 20cm), also increase the risk. It is likely that your physician will refer you to a specialist if you do meet any of these risk factors.
Family Link:
Then, there is the family link. If at least two close relatives developed melanoma, you are at increased risk of developing it as well. That said, only few melanomas are linked to inherited genes. Those that are, are believed to be linked to pancreatic cancer as well. Hence, if you have a family link to melanoma, you may also have one to pancreatic cancer. If this does run in your family, you should be referred to a specialist for continuous monitoring, so that cancer can be caught early and treated.
Suppressed Immune System:
Lastly, if you have a suppressed or weak immune system, the chance of developing melanoma is also increased. You may, for instance, be HIV positive, or you may have had an organ transplant and are on drugs that purposefully suppress the immune system.