Melanoma 101: what to know and how to protect yourself

ARTICLE
01 March 2024 dot 5 mins read

It’s the third most diagnosed cancer in Australia and the most dangerous form of skin cancer. But it may be largely preventable, and early detection saves lives. Here’s everything you need to know about melanoma.

Do you know how to spot melanoma?
 
According to the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, 1 in 17 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime2. It’s known as “Australia’s national cancer”3. And while cases in the 40-and-under ‘Slip Slop Slap’ generation have been declining since the late 1990s, incidence rates in older Australians have been rising4.
 
In a sun-soaked country like ours, it’s worth knowing what you can do if you find any unusual moles or freckles, and if your hair type or eye colour puts you at greater risk.
 
Here’s our short guide to the what, why, and how of melanoma.

What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. There are three main types of skin cancer, and while melanoma is the most serious, it can be prevented.
 
Melanoma develops in skin cells called ‘melanocytes’5. These cells make melanin and help to protect all the different layers of your skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
 
Melanoma develops when these skin cells become damaged and start making melanin in an uncontrolled way. The first sign of melanoma is usually an unusual mole or freckle on the skin’s surface.

What causes melanoma?

According to the Cancer Council, 95% of melanomas develop when skin is exposed to too much of the sun’s UV radiation6. This excessive UV radiation exposure damages the DNA in skin cells7.
 
Sunburn and tanning are evidence that your skin cells are damaged from UV radiation. Even if it was a grey day at the beach and your skin didn’t burn or tan, UV radiation could still have filtered through the clouds and damaged your skin cells. Sun damage – and the risk of skin cancer developing – can accumulate over time.
 
While UV radiation usually comes from the sun, it also comes from artificial sources, such as solariums, which can emit UV radiation up to six times stronger than the sun8. In fact, across Australia, commercial solariums have been banned since 2016 because they pose such a high risk of skin cancer.

What signs or symptoms should I look out for?

The great news is that more than 90% of melanoma cases can be treated successfully if they’re caught in good time9. Early detection is important, so regular skin checks – whether you do them yourself or with a professional – are a great habit to keep.
 
Melanoma normally shows up as an unusual new spot on the skin or a changing mole, usually on parts of the body that have been frequently exposed to the sun, but regularly in other nooks and crannies too.
 
Use the ABCDE guidelines10 to keep an eye on any new spots or changes.
  • A for asymmetry. Look for moles with irregular shapes. Does one half look different from the other?
  • B for border. Look for edges that are uneven or jagged. Does the border look smooth or rough?
  • C for colour. Look for different shades of colour in the one spot. Have you noticed any colours change?
  • D for diameter. Look for changes in size. Have any moles grown recently?
  • E for evolving. Look for any of these changes over time, including new symptoms. Do any moles have a raised area? Are they itchy or bleeding?

Have you completed your AIA Vitality skin check?

The AIA Vitality skin check exam is a short, guided video. By watching the video and completing your skin check at home, you can earn 1,000 AIA Vitality Points that go towards advancing your AIA Vitality Status.
 
Around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers each year in Australia are skin cancers11. Being proactive with your skin checks can help you detect melanoma early and deal with it before it becomes dangerous.

How is melanoma diagnosed?

If you’re worried about any changing moles or new spots on your skin, make an appointment with your GP or dermatologist to have them looked at. They’ll usually do a skin check, which might include taking a photo of the mole and measuring it. If they find anything suspicious, they might do a biopsy (cutting out a small sample of the mole to examine more closely) or refer you to a skin care specialist, like a dermatologist.
 
The Cancer Council publishes care guides for melanoma that explain all the diagnosis steps in detail, along with facts about treatment, timeframes, and recovery.

Am I at risk?

Yes. Melanoma can affect everyone, because we’re all exposed to the sun. Some people have a higher risk than others because of common physical features and behaviours. These include:
 
  • Skin type. Pale, fair, or freckled skin, especially if it burns easily. While people with darker skin (which has more melanin) have a lower risk of developing skin cancer12, UV radiation can damage all skin types.
  • Skin conditions. Sunspots and lots of existing moles, particularly if they’re irregular.
  • Your genes. Red or fair hair and blue or green eyes.
  • History. If you’re previously had skin cancer or have a family history of skin cancer.
  • Tanning. Intentionally exposing your skin to the sun to tan, or using a solarium.
  • Working outdoors. Compared with indoor workers, outdoor workers in Australia are exposed to five to ten times more UV radiation13

How can I protect myself?

It’s easy to be smart about your time in the sun and keep an eye on your skin. 
 
Sunlight helps our bodies maintain our vitamin D levels, [LP1] so we just need to strike a healthy balance between having fun outdoors and making sure we’re not damaging our skin and increasing our melanoma risk.
 
The best way to protect your skin is to follow the Cancer Council’s five steps of sun protection:
 
  • Slip on a shirt that covers as much skin as possible.
  • Slop on sunscreen, and make sure it’s SPF30+. Add it to your skincare routine and reapply it every two hours.
  • Slap on a broad-brimmed hat that will protect your face, neck, and ears.
  • Seek a spot of shade.
  • Slide on close-fitting sunglasses.
Footnotes

Staff Writer
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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