Melanoma is a type of skin cancer and occurs when skin pigment cells, called melanocytes, mutate and start growing without control, taking over and damaging healthy cells. It comprises 75 percent of all skin cancer related deaths. Usually melanoma occurs in the skin, but the bowel and the eye also have melanocytes that in very rare cases can turn cancerous.

White people who live in hot countries fall into a group of higher risk for developing melanoma, since the main cause for this condition is exposure to direct sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. It is also thought that men are more likely to get this type of skin cancer than women. People with darker skin type have lower risk to develop melanoma than people with fair skin. As with many other forms of cancer, cases of melanoma in the family history greatly increases the individuals chance to have the condition.

The first warning sign for melanoma is normally a patch of skin that is abnormal in its shape, size or colour. The patch is usually asymmetrical, relatively big, oddly shaped and there are different shades of colour present in it. Moreover, a mole that changes in size and shape might be a sign of concern.

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