There are several factors that might increase the chances of a person attaining a certain kind of disease. In this article, we will talk about some of the common risk factors of melanoma. Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer in which melanocytes, cells that give the skin its color, start to grow out of control.

1. Moles
People who have had unusual moles or many moles are at a higher risk of getting melanoma. Such moles are also referred to as dysplastic moles and have irregular shapes and colors. In this case, the doctor may prescribe regular photography of the skin to keep track of the moles.

2. Fair skin, blonde or light hair, and freckles
People with red or blonde hair, fair complexion, freckles, and blue eyes are at risk of developing melanoma. Also, people whose skin tends to burn instead of tanning are also vulnerable to melanoma. From an ethnic point of view, the risk of melanoma is higher in Caucasian people than in African-Americans.

3. Familial history
Genetics is one of the risk factors for melanoma. The risk of getting melanoma increases if one or more first-degree relatives have had a history with melanoma. These include parents, children, brothers, and sisters. It is also seen that every one in ten patients has had someone in the family with melanoma.

4. Indoor tanning
Using indoor tanning is one of the risk factors for melanoma. People who often visit tanning parlors tan in beds or sun lamps; this increases the risk of melanoma. This is the reason why indoor tanning beds are not recommended. In fact, just one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of getting melanoma by almost 20 percent.

5. Age
The average age of people who are diagnosed with melanoma is 65. Although in most of the cases, melanoma occurs in people who have just crossed the age of 50, and the rest half are 50 years or younger. It is the third most common cancer in women and men aged between 15 and 29.

6. Weak immune system
A weak immune system is one of the common risk factors of melanoma. The immune system plays an essential role in fighting off cancer. But, in case it is weak, the person can easily be exposed to melanoma and several other forms of cancers. There are several factors that can weaken the immune system of a person. For instance, people who are infected with HIV have a weakened immune system. Also, people who have been through organ transplants are prescribed medicines that can weaken their immune systems.

The first step to prevent melanoma is to take preventive measures, such as avoiding tanning beds as much as possible, applying sunscreen when exposed a lot to the sunlight, and wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes and surrounding sensitive skin.