When people spend time in the sunlight, melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous which is called melanoma.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.Melanoma is caused by changes in cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color. It can appear on normal skin, or it may begin as a mole or other area that has changed in appearance.
Symptoms
The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. But melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. They can appear anywhere on the skin.
The ABCDE system can help you remember possible symptoms of melanoma: * Asymmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half. * Borders: The edges of the growth are irregular. * Color: Color changes from one area to another, with shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes white, red, or blue. A mixture of colors may appear within one sore. * Diameter: The spot is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter -- about the size of a pencil eraser. * Evolution: The mole keeps changing appearance.
You should also examine your skin once a month, using a mirror to check hard-to-see places
The chance of getting melanoma increases as you get older, but people of any age can get melanoma. In fact, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults (ages 25 to 29). Each year, more than 50,000 people in the U.S. learn that they have melanoma.
Prevention
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to reduce your exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light is most intense between