The rest get started on normal skin , often where the skin is regularly exposed to sunlight. Causes Doctors believe the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is the chief cause of melanoma. Exposure to the light has been found to induce some pigment-producing cells in the skin to become cancerous. Other possible causes include exposure to X rays or chemical pollution. Heredity is also a factor.
Some families tend to have moles that become cancerous.
Different ethnic groups have differing susceptibilities. Incidence Medical experts report melanoma is on the increase though, the number of cases having doubled in the United States over the past two decades. Melanoma can strike at any age. Along with the rise in total number of cases, however, doctors have reported they are now seeing melanomas more frequently on younger patients. Symptoms you are likely to notice Generally you should be suspicious of any mole that changes size, becomes irregular in shape, swells up or bleeds, itches, or becomes painful.