Melanoma is the most dangerous and severe type of skin cancer. In this type of cancer, pigment-producing cells that are responsible for the color and complexion of the body become cancerous. This skin cancer type can be fatal and therefore proper treatment is required as soon as a cancer test is detected positive for a person.

It can affect a person at any part of the body. Based on its place of occurrence, it is divided into two: exposed melanoma and hidden melanoma. The normal one can be detected by witnessing the changing features of the moles in shape, size, and color. The hidden ones directly affect the nail, digestive tracts, eye, and other complex internal and external organs.

The risk factors of melanoma
There are many factors that increase the chance of being affected by melanoma. Moreover, some of these are so common that people usually neglect or avoid the symptoms. Given below are a few risk factors of this serious type of skin cancer.

• Suppressed or weakened immune system
  The individuals who have weak immune systems can be affected by this type of skin cancer. Moreover, there are certain medications that suppress the immune system and its ability of functioning. This can also act as a trigger of this severe type of skin cancer.
• Age
  Age is another risk factor of melanoma. After attaining median age, both men and women are at a higher risk of being affected by this form of skin cancer. It has been observed that the people who are below 50 years of age are also prone to be affected by this type of skin cancer. Melanoma affects young men and women more than any other types of cancer.
• Ethnicity and race
  According to research, it has been observed that fair-skinned people are more prone to getting affected with this type of skin cancer as compared to people with a dark complexion.
• History of skin cancer
  An individual who is a survivor of melanoma has a chance of getting attributed with this for a second time. There are a few people who have squamous cell skin cancer or basal cell; they have the risk of being attacked with melanoma. Therefore, it is necessary for a person who was once attacked by melanoma to go for checkups at regular intervals.
• Other inherited conditions
  There are particular genetic conditions that play a crucial role in increasing the chances of an individual being affected by melanoma. They are ovarian cancer syndromes, breast cancer, Werner syndrome, retinoblastoma, and so on.
• Sun exposure
  Exposure to the direct UV rays of the sun can be harmful to the skin as it increases the risk of melanoma affecting the individual. This is because the UVB and UVA radiation of the sun plays an important role in developing this type of skin cancer. The latter is responsible for the production of the squamous and basal skin cancer cells.

There are many other risk factors associated with the production of the melanoma cells and its effects on the body.