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Melanoma
Overview
Melanoma is a serious type of cancer that forms in the cells responsible for making melanin (melanocytes). Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color.
Melanoma is unlike other skin cancers in that it's much more likely to spread to other parts of the body (or metastasize). This quality makes it the deadliest form of skin cancer. Because of its high fatality rate, melanoma claims the most lives despite affecting fewer people than most other skin cancers.
Key risk factors include:
- Fair skin
- A prior history of sunburns
- UV exposure from sunlight and tanning beds
- Family or personal history of melanomas
- Weak immune system
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Symptoms
The most common way to identify melanomas is to perform a skin self-exam to look for changes to existing moles or new growths appearing on the skin. Dermatologists also offer the "ABCDE" rule to help you remember these symptoms of possible melanoma:
- Asymmetry: Is it unbalanced (melanoma) or symmetrical (usually non-malignant)?
- Border: Does the mole have irregular or blurred edges (melanoma) or smooth, even edges (benign mole)?
- Color: Healthy moles are usually a single shade; if yours has multiple colors (brown, black, red, white, or blue), you should contact a professional to get it examined.
- Diameter: Unless detected early, melanomas often exceed 6mm in diameter (about the width of a pencil eraser).
- Evolving: If you observe the size, shape, color, or symptoms (itching, tenderness, or bleeding) changing quickly, you should have the growth examined.
You also want to keep an eye out for sores that never seem to heal, pigmentation extending beyond the edge of a mole, and redness and swelling around a mole. If ever in doubt, it's best to contact a doctor for an evaluation. Read more: How to Perform a Skin Self-Exam →
Causes
Melanoma occurs when healthy melanocytes transform into cancer cells. Melanocytes are skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.
Melanoma begins when melanocytes undergo DNA changes. DNA instructs cells how to regulate their behavior. Normally, DNA guides controlled cell growth, division, and death; however, the altered DNA in melanoma causes cells to grow and divide rapidly. And the cancer cells outlive their healthy counterparts resulting in an excess of cells.
As cancer cells build up, they may form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can grow, invade, and damage healthy body tissue. In time, melanoma cells can detach and spread to other parts of the body, resulting in metastatic cancer.
The exact reason for these DNA changes is not fully understood yet, but environmental and genetic factors are likely key contributors. In particular, UV light from both sunlight and tanning beds is believed to be a leading cause. However, it is possible to develop melanomas even in areas with limited sunlight, suggesting that other factors also contribute to their growth.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your risk of developing melanoma:
- Fair skin: People with fair skin have less melanin, which provides less protection from UV radiation.
- History of sunburns: Sunburns, especially during childhood, increase your risk of developing melanoma.
- Excessive UV exposure: Spending too much time in the sun or using tanning beds increases your risk of developing melanoma.
- Family history: If a close relative has had melanoma, you are at a higher risk of developing it yourself.
- Personal history: If you have had melanoma before, you are at a higher risk of developing it again.
- Weak immune system: If you have a weakened immune system, you are at a higher risk of developing melanoma.
Prevention
There are several ways to reduce your risk of developing melanoma:
- Limit your exposure to UV radiation: Avoid spending too much time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Use sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to all exposed skin, even on cloudy days.
- Wear protective clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats to protect your skin from the sun.
- Avoid tanning beds: Tanning beds expose your skin to harmful UV radiation, increasing your risk of developing melanoma.
- Check your skin regularly: Examine your skin regularly for changes in moles, freckles, or other growths.
- See a dermatologist: If you notice any changes in your skin, see a dermatologist for a skin exam.
Departments That Treat This Condition
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