What Causes Melanoma?

Melanocytes make the pigment that gives skin and moles their colour. Melanoma begins when these cells develop changes that allow abnormal growth and persistence. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning devices can damage skin-cell DNA and contributes to this process. An atypical mole can be a marker of increased susceptibility, although melanoma can also arise in previously normal-looking skin. Family history, a tendency to develop many moles, and repeated sun exposure can all be relevant when a clinician assesses the whole picture.

Check your skin regularly in consistent lighting, including the scalp, soles, palms, between toes, and under nails. Notice a mole or spot that changes in size, shape, colour, border, or sensation, and arrange an examination rather than trying to diagnose it from a photograph. Reduce ultraviolet exposure with shade, protective clothing, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Do not use tanning devices, and ask about a personalised skin-check plan if you have atypical moles or a close family history.

Book a prompt skin assessment for a changing mole, a new dark or unusual spot, a lesion that bleeds or fails to heal, or a mark that becomes persistently itchy or tender. Urgent assessment is appropriate for rapid change, repeated bleeding, or an ulcerated lesion. These signs do not establish melanoma, but they should not be ignored.

Ask whether the spot needs dermoscopic examination or removal for laboratory analysis, how your mole pattern affects follow-up, and which areas are easiest to miss during self-checks. Ask for practical sun-protection advice suited to your daily routine.