Causes of melanoma (Skin Cancer)
Most skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light damaging the DNA in skin cells. The main source of UV light is sunlight.
Sunlight contains three types of UV light:
- ultraviolet A (UVA)
- ultraviolet B (UVB)
- ultraviolet C (UVC).
UVC is most dangerous to the skin but is filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere. UVA and UVB damage pale skin over time, making it more likely for skin cancers to develop. UVB is thought to be the main cause of skin cancer overall, but it isn't yet known whether UVA also plays a role in causing melanoma.
Artificial sources of light, such as sunlamps and tanning beds, also increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Repeated sunburn, either by the sun or artificial sources of light, increases the risk of melanoma in people of all ages.