Even though melanoma is one of the rarer skin cancers, it causes a vast majority of skin cancer related deaths. Melanoma is a malignant tumor which results from overgrowth of skin pigment cells called melanocytes. It can also occur in your bowels and in your eyes, but it is much more common on the skin and so that specific type of melanoma will be the focus of this article.

While genetic predisposition can also have a hand in developing symptoms of melanoma, the major contributor to developing this type of cancer is ultraviolet radiation, frequently referred to as UV Rays. The main source of UV radiation is, of course, the sun. However, tanning beds are becoming more and more common and thus are contributing more and more to this