Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. It develops in the cells that produce the pigment that gives the skin its color called melanin but it can also form in the eyes and, rarely, in internal organs.

Melanoma accounts for the smallest percentage of all skin cancers but they also account for the greatest number of deaths. Reason being is this type of cancer is prone to spread throughout different parts of the body.

Experts still have not identified the exact cause of all melanomas but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or artificial tanning greatly increases the risk of developing melanoma.

Avoiding excessive sun exposure can prevent many melanomas. And knowing the warning signs of skin cancer can help ensure that cancerous changes are detected and treated before they have a chance to spread. Melanoma can be successfully treated if you catch it early.

Typical signs & symptoms of melanoma include:

Moles – Moles are clusters of pigmented cells. Some are normal and some are abnormal. Normal moles typically share one color like brown or black, and are oval or round in shape and about 1/4 inch in diameter. The average number of moles on a person’s body is between 10 and 40.

Some people may have larger (more than 1/2 inch, or 12 millimeters, in diameter), flat moles with irregular borders that have multiple colors like tan, brown, and either red or pink. These moles are medically known as dysplastic nevi, and the odds of these moles becoming cancerous (malignant) are much higher than normal moles.

Melanoma is usually first characterized by a change in an existing mole or the development of a new, unusual-looking growth on the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology uses the A-B-C-D skin self-examination guide to identify melanomas and other forms of cancer.

A - Asymmetrical shape – These moles often have an irregular shape, such as two very different-looking halves.

B- Border – These moles have irregular, notched or scalloped borders.

C – Color Changes – These are growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color.

D – Diameter – This is often a new growth in a mole larger than about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters).

Other changes suspicious changes in a mole may include:

- Scaliness

- Itching

- Change in texture

- Spreading of pigment from the mole into the surrounding skin

- Oozing or bleeding

Hidden melanomas are melanomas that can develop on other areas of the body that have little or no sun exposure. These places include spaces between the toes as well as the palms, soles, scalp or genitals.

Some hidden melanomas include:

Subungual Melanoma - This form of melanoma is rare and usually occurs under a nail, most often on the thumb or big toe. It's especially common in blacks and in other people with darker skin pigment.

Mucosal Melanoma – This form is rare as well and usually develops in the mucosal tissue that lines the nose, mouth, esophagus, anus, urinary tract and vagina.

Ocular Melanoma - This form sometimes develops in cells that contain pigment in the retina.

Most melanomas occur in more conspicuous places. The most common melanomas include:

Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM) – This type accounts for most melanomas and typically first has a flat or slightly raised appearance that's multicolored with an irregular border.

Nodular Melanoma (NM) – This form is the most aggressive of all melanomas and typically appears as a small, round bump (nodule) with a smooth border. Most NMs are black, but can also be brown, blue, gray or even red in color.

Acral-Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM) – This form accounts for the common skin cancer in people with deeper skin color and typically appears on the palms, soles or nails.

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM) – This form poses the least threat and tends to develop on the nose or cheeks of older adults. It is most closely linked with long-term exposure to the sun. The lesions are flat and range in size from 0.25 to 2.4 inches (0.6 to 6 centimeters) or more.

In basic terms, melanoma results from damage to DNA cells which can cause malignant cells to be formed in the body. The exact cause of the damage is being studied widely by many experts because cancer is a complex disease that usually results from a number of different factors rather than one in particular.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation still remains a leading factor in the development of melanoma.

Other factors that play a role in the development of melanoma includes:

- Chronic sun exposure

- Heredity

- Age

- Carcinogens

The good news about melanoma is that it can be can be cured if caught early. If you think you may have melanoma, see a professional health care practitioner immediately.

The best preventative steps a person take with regard to melanoma include:

- Avoid UV exposure for long periods of time.

- Do not tan artificially.

- Check skin regularly for new moles or changes and already existing one’s.

The following supplements may be beneficial as well.

Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg daily) and DMG (take as directed on label) - Improves cellular oxygenization.

Essential Fatty Acids (take as directed on label) - Are good for cellular protection.

Garlic (2 capsules 3 times daily) - Natural antibiotic which enhances immune function.

Histidine (take as directed on label) - Increases the skin’s immunity to sun damage.

Quercetin (take as directed on label) - Natural antioxidant.

Selenium (200 mcg daily) - Powerful free radical destroyer.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) (take as directed on label) and Vitamin A (10,000 - 50,000 IU daily) - Destroy free radicals.

Maitake Extract (4,000 - 8,000 mg daily) - Contain substances that prevent the growth and spread of cancerous tumors.

Grape Seed Extract (take as directed on label) - Antioxidants that shield against UV- induced oxidative changes in the skin.

Vitamin B Complex (100 mg daily) - Necessary for normal cell division and function.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (5,000 - 20,000 mg daily in divided doses) - Powerful anti-cancer agent.

Vitamin E (up to 1,000 IU daily) - Promotes healing and tissue repair.

Alfalfa, Dandelion Root and Horsetail (take as directed on label) - Aid tissue repair.

Astragalus (take as directed on label) - Immune system booster. Generates anticancer cells in the body.

Burdock Root and Red Clover (take as directed on label) - Cleanses the blood and lymph nodes.