Risk Assessment

People who have already been diagnosed with melanoma have an increased risk of developing another melanoma elsewhere on their body.

If even one member of your immediate family has melanoma, you are at increased risk for developing it.

Having certain types of moles, such as atypical moles called dysplastic nevi, can increase your risk of developing melanoma.

The risk of melanoma is greater for people with a large number of ordinary moles.

People who have had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or teenager have an increased risk for melanoma. Sunburns in adulthood are also a risk factor for melanoma.

Melanoma occurs more often in people with fair skin that burns easily. People who have red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, and fair skin have less melanin in their skin and therefore less protection against the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Melanoma occurs more often in people with fair skin that freckles easily.

Use of indoor tanning beds, even once, is linked to an increase in the risk of developing melanoma.

The greater the total amount of sun exposure over a lifetime, the greater the chance of melanoma.

People whose immune system is weakened or suppressed by certain cancers, UV radiation, special drugs for organ transplants, or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS may have an increased risk of developing melanoma.