Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can occur anywhere on your body. It's not the most common type, but it causes the most skin cancer deaths. The rate of melanoma is rising faster than any other potentially preventable cancer in the U.S. This may partly be because people are spending more time in the sun.
MelanomaMelanoma is a type of skin cancer that can occur anywhere on your body. It's not the most common type, but it causes the most skin cancer deaths. The rate of melanoma is rising faster than any other potentially preventable cancer in the U.S. This may partly be because people are spending more time in the sun.Being exposed to ultraviolet or UV radiation from the sun's rays, a tanning bed, or a sunlamp can damage your skin. This can put you at risk for melanoma or other types of skin cancer. Other things that increase your chances of getting melanoma include: having lots of moles, unusual moles, or large moles, having a close family member who has had melanoma, having had melanoma in the past, having fair skin, light-colored eyes, or light-colored hair, having skin that freckles and burns easily, having lots of sunburns in the past. If you have dark skin or if you are African American, your risk for melanoma is less. But if you do get melanoma, it can be more dangerous. Because of this, it is still important to be aware of melanoma signs.What to tell your healthcare providerIf any moles on your body have changed in size or appearance, ask your healthcare provider to take a look. Use the ABCDE rule. A is for asymmetric. Are there any moles with unusual shapes? B is for irregular border. Do any moles have raised or ragged edges? C is for color. Do any moles have unusual or mixed colors? D is for diameter. Are any moles getting larger? E is for evolving. Is a mole changing in color, size, or shape?The ABCDE rule does not work for all melanomas. Call your healthcare provider if you have any spots on your skin that are new, changing in size, shape, or color, or are different from all the other spots on your body.Skin biopsyIf your healthcare provider thinks a mole may be a melanoma, you may need a skin biopsy. This means a small piece of the mole must be removed to be looked at under a microscope. There is a small chance that your biopsy can cause an infection, or it may leave a scar. But the benefits of a biopsy outweigh its risks. Melanomas that are found early are easier to treat. If a biopsy shows that you have a melanoma, you and your healthcare provider will talk about the types of treatment. A diagnosis of skin cancer can be hard to hear. But you've taken the first step in dealing with a serious threat to your health.What to doIf you have a history of melanoma, make sure you know how to do a self-exam. Do an exam once a month.Make sure to stay out of the sun for long periods, especially if you burn easily. Try to stay out of the sun when its rays are strongest. That's from 10 am to 4 pm.Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF of 30 or higher on all exposed skin. The sunscreen needs to protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. An SPF of 30 filters out 97 percent of UV radiation.If you are fair skinned, expect intense sun exposure, or will be in the sun for a long time, you may need a sunscreen with a higher SPF.Stay in the shade. Shaded areas get less UV radiation. Sunscreen is still needed, though. UV radiation can go through clouds and reflect off of surfaces like cement, sand, snow, and water.Keep track of the UV Index. This index predicts the risk of sunburn in your area on a given day. It is based on weather conditions. It ranges from zero to 11-plus. Zero means a low exposure risk. Ten means a very high risk. An 11-plus is an extreme risk of sun exposure.And ask your healthcare provider if you need a vitamin D supplement if you must stay out of the sun.What we have learnedMelanoma is a form of skin cancer that causes the most skin cancer deaths. True or false?The answer is true.If you have a mole that is changing color, you do not need to report it to your healthcare provider. True or false?The answer is false.If a melanoma is found early, it is much easier to treat. True or false?The answer is true.
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
