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Top Causes and Stages of Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when melanocytes, i.e. pigment producing cells, mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably. Melanoma can develop on any part of the skin. However, certain areas are more prone to it. In women, it mostly occurs on the legs whereas in men, it is commonly seen on the chest and back. Let’s take a quick look at the top causes and different stages of melanoma. Causes of Melanoma Under normal circumstances, the pigment producing cells develop in a controlled and systematic manner. The newly produced cells push the worn out cells towards the skin’s surface, from where they get eliminated. Sometimes, some cells grow with a damaged DNA, and begin to multiply at an uncontrolled rate, forming a mass of cancerous cells. The real cause of this change in the DNA is not known. However, a combination of genetic and environmental factors is believed to cause it. Risk Factors Understanding the top causes and different stages of melanoma can be helpful to prevent or fight the condition well. Here are some leading risk factors of melanoma. An unusually high number of moles Tendency to develop freckles after exposure to the sun A history of sunburn Excessive exposure to the harmful ultraviolet sun rays A family history of melanoma Living closer to the equator or at a higher altitude A weakened immune system Older age A previous organ transplant Stages of Melanoma During diagnosis, to understand its spread in the body as well as to identify the best treatment, melanoma is determined by its stage.