What Causes Melanoma?
Question
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Answer ( 1 )
Melanoma is caused by skin cells that begin to develop abnormally. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is thought to cause most melanomas, but there’s evidence to suggest that some may result from sunbed exposure.
The type of sun exposure that causes melanoma is sudden intense exposure – for example, while on holiday, which leads to sunburn.
Certain things can increase your chances of developing melanoma, such as having:
Sunlight contains three types of UV light:
UVC is most dangerous to the skin but is filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere. UVA and UVB damage pale skin over time, making it more likely for skin cancers to develop. UVB is thought to be the main cause of skin cancer overall, but it isn’t yet known whether UVA also plays a role in causing melanoma.
Artificial sources of light, such as sunlamps and tanning beds, also increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
Repeated sunburn, either by the sun or artificial sources of light, increases the risk of melanoma in people of all ages.
Moles
You’re at an increased risk of melanoma if you have lots of moles on your body, particularly if they’re large (over 5mm) or unusually shaped.
For this reason, it’s important to monitor your moles for changes and avoid exposing them to intense sun.
Other risk factors
You’re also more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer if you have:
The risk of developing skin cancer also increases with age.