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Ask yourself these questions to determine if you may be at risk for having or developing Melanoma. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should talk to your doctor.
1. Did you have one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or
teenager?
People who have had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child
or teenager have an increased risk for melanoma. Sunburns in adulthood
are also a risk factor for melanoma.
2. Do you frequently spend time in the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM
without skin protection?
UV radiation from the sun is most intense when the sun is highest in
the skyógenerally midday, between 10 AM and 4 PM. Spending time in the
sun during these hours increases your exposure to UV radiation and the
risk for developing melanoma.
3. Do you have fair skin and light eyes?
Melanoma occurs more often in people with fair skin that burns easily.
These people also usually have red or blond hair and blue eyes.
Fair-skinned people have less melanin in their skin and therefore less
protection against the sun's damaging UV rays.
4. Do you have many freckles?
Melanoma occurs more often in people with fair skin that freckles easily.
5. Do you have more than 50 ordinary moles?
The risk of melanoma is greater for people with a large number of
ordinary moles.
6. Do you now have, or have you ever had, non-cancerous, but unusual looking
moles?
Certain types of mole patterns are typical of an increased risk of
getting melanoma, such as moles called dysplastic nevi.
7. Has anyone in your family ever had melanoma?
Melanoma sometimes runs in families, so people with two or more close
relatives who have had melanoma have an increased risk of developing
melanoma themselves.
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