There are some warning signs for skin lesions that suggest they may be a malignant melanoma. The major message here is to get to know your skin, and be observant for changes. Most will not be cancerous, but you need to know what to look for in order to determine which lesions are at risk. However, both the total amount of sun you have received over the years, and overexposure resulting in sunburn can cause skin cancer. The message to parents from this is to protect your children.
Skin cancer is related to a lifetime exposure to UV radiation.
Although skin cancer usually appears after age 50, the sun's most damaging affect begins at an early age. Tanning is your skin's response to UV light. It is a protective reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun. However, it does not prevent skin cancer. Remember, skin cancer is very slow to develop.