Who is at risk for developing melanoma?
• People with fair skin that burns and freckles easily and people with red or blond hair and light eyes are at highest risk. • People with many ordinary moles are at an increased risk. • People who have atypical moles also called dysplastic nevi. These atypical moles are more likely to become cancerous than ordinary moles. The more atypical moles a person has, the higher their risk of developing melanoma. • Family history of melanoma. Having 2 or more close relatives who have had melanoma increases the risk. • People who have had at least one severe sunburn as a child or teenager. • People with weakened immune systems from things such as treatments for other cancers, medications given after transplantation, or HIV. • People who spend a great deal of time in the sun. UV radiation from the sun can cause premature aging of the skin and skin damage which can lead to melanoma. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as tanning booths and sunlamps, can also cause skin damage and increase th
