1. Skin Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Skin Cancer Quiz
3. Sun-Damaged Skin Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Alan Rockoff, MD

Alan Rockoff, MD

Dr. Rockoff received his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva College with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His internship and two years of Pediatric residency were at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, followed by training in Dermatology at the combined residency program at Tufts and Boston Universities. Dr. Rockoff is certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Pediatrics.

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Medical Author:

Michael S. Lehrer, MD

Medical Editor:

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Hecht is a Pediatrician and Medical Geneticist and is certified by both the American Boards of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. Dr. Hecht was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. and the Sorbonne at the University of Paris receiving his BA degree cum laude with distinction from Dartmouth.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• Introduction
• What does melanoma look like? What are the symptoms and signs?
• What if the skin changes are rapid or dramatic?
• What are the causes and risk factors for melanoma?
• How do I know my level of risk for melanoma?
• What are the types of melanoma?
• How is melanoma diagnosed?
• How do doctors determine the prognosis (outlook) of a melanoma?
• What is the treatment for melanoma?
• What methods are available to help prevent melanoma?
• Conclusions
• What is in the future for melanoma?
• Melanoma At A Glance
• Additional Resources
• Skin Cancer (Melanoma) FAQs
• Patient Comments: Melanoma - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Melanoma - Diagnosis
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Melanoma Index

Guideline # 5: Individual sunburns do raise your risk of melanoma. However, slow daily sun exposure, even without burning, may also substantially raise your risk of skin cancer.

Factors that raise your risk for melanoma include:

• Caucasian (white) ancestry



• Fair skin, light hair, and light-colored eyes



• A history of intense, intermittent sun exposure, especially in childhood



• Many (more than 100) moles



• Large, irregular, or "funny looking" moles



• Close blood relatives -- parents, siblings, and children -- with melanoma

The presence of close (first-degree) family with melanoma is a high risk factor, although looking at all of melanoma, only 10% of cases run in families.

The best way to know your risk level is to have a dermatologist perform a full body examination. That way you will find out whether the spots you have are moles and, if so, whether they are "funny looking" in the medical sense.

The medical term for such moles is "atypical." This is a somewhat confusing term, because among other things the criteria for defining it are not clear, and it's not certain that an atypical mole is necessarily precancerous. If you have such moles, your doctor may do a biopsy in order to counsel you about the need for surveillance or further testing.

Sometimes, you learn at a routine skin evaluation that you do not necessarily need annual routine checkups. In other situations, your doctor may recommend regular checks at six-month or yearly intervals.