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Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor, the most dangerous and the most deadly. It originates from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, and appears on the skin, while in rare cases it can appear in the eye, mucous membranes and meninges.

One would imagine that Greece, due to the intense sunshine throughout the year, would show high rates of melanoma. And yet this is not the case due to the protection provided by our skin type, which is slightly darker. The incidence of melanoma increases in areas where people with light skin type are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a long time. Thus, Australia has the highest incidence worldwide, while in Europe the Scandinavian regions have the highest rates.

The risk factors for melanoma are:

• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation
• Fair skin
• Large congenital moles
• Personal history of melanoma
• Family history of melanoma
• Mutation in specific genes
• Patients with many atypical moles
• Melaghromatosis (hereditary condition)

As we can understand, the risk factors are such that we are born with them and as a result we cannot control them. The only factor that is controlled by us is our exposure to ultraviolet radiation. For this reason, we should be very careful about our exposure to the sun, especially in the summer months.

A code has been established worldwide that consists of the first 5 letters of the English alphabet and is a guide to the early warning signs of melanoma.

These are A, B, C, D, E, where:

A. asymmetry

B. (border): the boundary where it should normally be uniform

C. (color): the color, where a mole should be monochromatic

D. (diameter): the diameter of a mole should ideally not exceed 6 mm and

E. (evolution): the evolution of a mole, where simple benign moles remain unchanged, while we should be concerned when a mole begins to change. It does not mean that someone who has an uneven mole or a relatively large mole or a mole that is darker in one part and lighter in another, necessarily has melanoma. Melanoma is a combination of dermatoscopic features that should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

In the worst case scenario, someone is diagnosed with melanoma, the therapeutic approach begins with surgical removal of the melanoma and, after staging, a decision is made on whether to follow with radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

In conclusion, we should understand that the best examination is self-examination. We should all check our bodies for any new moles and any changes to old ones, changes that will make us consult our dermatologist.

Sunscreen should always be part of our daily routine all year round, not just during the summer months.