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. Typically, melanoma is described in five stages from 0 to 4.

• Stage 0
  Also referred to as melanoma in situ, this stage implies that cancer is only present in the outer layer of the skin.
• Stage 1
  Here, the tumor is up to two mm in thickness and most likely not ulcerated. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or other nearby sites.
• Stage 2
  In this stage, the tumor is believed to be at least one mm thick. However, it may also be thicker than four mm. The tumor may have reached the lymph nodes or other nearby sites.
• Stage 3
  In this stage, the tumor may be thicker than 4 mm and ulcerated. Also, it has reached one or more lymph nodes or the nearby lymphatic channels.
• Stage 4
  This is the last stage, wherein the tumor has spread to the distant lymph nodes as well as other body organs, such as the liver, lungs or brain.

So, these are the most common causes and different stages of melanoma. If you experience any kind of changes in the skin that seem unusual, you must immediately seek medical attention. An early detection can be helpful in treating the disease.