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Melanoma.com: What is melanoma?

From Sun Safety Alliance Photos

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It begins in skin cells called melanocytes.

Melanocytes are the cells that make melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanin also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma.

How and where does melanoma appear?

The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. But melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole.

  • In men, melanoma most often shows up:
  • On the upper body, between the shoulders and hips
  • On the head and neck
  • In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs.
  • In dark-skinned people, melanoma often appears:
  • Under the fingernails or toenails
  • On the palms of the hands
  • On the soles of the feet

Although these are the most common places on the body for melanomas to appear, they can appear anywhere on the skin. That's why it is important to always examine your skin to check for new moles or changes in moles.


With early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of recovery are very good.

The chance of getting melanoma increases as you get older, but people of any age can get melanoma. In fact, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults. Each year, more than 50,000 people in the U.S. learn that they have melanoma.

Melanoma is a serious and sometimes life-threatening cancer. If melanoma is found and treated in its early stages, the chances of recovery are very good. If it is not found early, melanoma can grow deeper into the skin and spread to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body beyond the skin, it is difficult to treat.

4 comments:

hungeryjack October 31, 2009 at 7:25 PM  

Nice post - melanoma photos ..Keep Posting


Ron
melanoma photos

Anonymous September 20, 2010 at 8:03 AM  

I used to think that Melanoma was some kind of skin disease, but nothing to do with cancer, at least not such a bad thing. Is it dangerous to take viagra online pills under the sun?

kaney June 22, 2012 at 1:14 AM  

Toenail melanomas are similarly found on the skin but they are on the skin beneath the toenail or thumbnail. This makes them less noticeable especially for people who frequently wear dark nail polish. This is also the reason why most toenail melanomas are only treated or removed only when they have reached the more advanced stages of growth.

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costlules February 24, 2015 at 6:11 AM  


When individuals spend time in the daylight, the melanocytes make more melanin and trigger the skin to tan. This also happens when pores and skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (akin to in a tanning booth). If the pores and skin receives an excessive amount of ultraviolet gentle, the melanocytes may begin to develop abnormally and become cancerous. This situation is known as melanoma.

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About SSA

We are the Sun Safety Alliance, a non-profit coalition brought to you by the Entertainment and Media Communication Institute’s Center on Skin Cancer Prevention, the research and strategy division of the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.

We work to educate the public about the importance of sun safe behavior to prevent the incidence of skin cancer.