Sun exposure, artificial tanning, moles, fair skin, light hair, age, family history, certain inherited conditions, and personal history are some of the risk factors of melanoma.

Dr. Ramon Jimenez, Chief of Melanoma and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery with Miami Cancer Institute, says anybody can get melanoma, no matter your skin type, but there are some groups that are at higher risk. He points out that people with fair skin, red hair and blue eyes have to be careful when they are in the sunlight, because they are supersensitive to sunlight.