What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for melanoma include:⁴

• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
  • Blistering sunburns at any time of life
  • Intense sun exposure, every now and then
• Skin characteristics.
  • Fair skin that doesn't tan and tends to sunburn or freckle
  • Numerous moles and/or more than one atypical mole
  • A large mole you had since birth
• Eye or hair color.
  • Blue or green eyes
  • Red or blond hair
• A personal or family history of melanoma.
• Certain gene changes.
• Xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease.

Treatment with the combination of a psoralen and UVA light (PUVA) may raise the risk of melanoma.¹ PUVA is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.