RIsk Factors For Melanoma

Immune Suppression

When the immune system is in a weakened state, it cannot adequately perform the process of immuno-surveillance, which is when the immune system checks through the cells in the body to ensure they are not showing protein indicators that look suspicious. When the immune system does find cells tagged with cancer-suspicious proteins in a healthy individual, it will quickly destroy them. In individuals who experience immune suppression however, the lack of immuno-surveillance puts them at a significantly higher risk of developing melanoma because the body does not know to destroy the first signs of it. Numerous medications used to treat other serious conditions can cause immune suppression. Individuals who have had organ transplants usually have to take immuno-suppressant drugs for the rest of their life to help prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Patients who have undergone a splenectomy to remove the spleen or have a spleen that does not function are also at higher risk of developing melanoma from a suppressed immune system.

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Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum is characterized by severe sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. The skin cells of xeroderma pigmentosum patients are extremely susceptible to DNA damage from ultraviolet rays that tends to build up due to their DNA repair processes not functioning correctly. Xeroderma pigmentosum is caused by an inherited mutation that presents in an autosomal recessive pattern that can happen to both men and women of any ethnic background. Xeroderma pigmentosum causes a sunburn to ensue quickly and become severe within just minutes of ultraviolet exposure. The severe sunburns often will last for several weeks before they will begin to heal. Those younger than twenty years old have a staggering one thousand times of a chance of developing skin cancers including melanoma than an individual who does not have xeroderma pigmentosum. This skin disease is rare, however, the occurrences of melanoma-related to this risk factor are not rare. The risk of developing melanoma because of xeroderma pigmentosum never goes away or goes into remission, as the disease has no cure. Treatment for xeroderma pigmentosum always involves preventative measures to ensure melanomas are promptly removed upon discovery.

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