What causes melanoma?

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  A Dr. Omar H. Llaguna, MD , Surgery, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida

  Although the exact cause of melanoma is not yet known, experts believe exposure to ultraviolet light, damages skin cell DNA, transforming normal melanocytes (pigmented cells) into cancerous cells, which are cells that divide uncontrollably and gain the ability to invade other organs. However, because melanoma can originate from areas of the body that are not exposed to the sun, ultraviolet light exposure does not account for all cases of melanoma. It’s very likely that a host of other genetic and environmental factors may account for a small subset of non-sun exposure-related melanomas. 

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  A Regional Medical Center answered

  Though the specific cause of melanoma is unknown, it appears that melanoma develops when there are problems with the DNA that controls skin cells. In people with melanoma, DNA is damaged and causes an overgrowth of skin cells, which results in a cancerous melanoma. Although it's not proven that ultraviolet (UV) light causes melanoma, skin that is exposed to UVA and UVB radiation from sun exposure or tanning beds seems to be most vulnerable to damage.

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