There are several risk factors for melanoma, including:

• Light skin tone, light eyes, freckles
• Recurrent sunburns in childhood
• Congenital moles or moles that appeared during the first year of life
• Multiple moles (over 50)
• Personal history of an abnormal (dysplastic) mole or melanoma
• First-degree relative with a dysplastic mole or melanoma
• Use of immunosuppressive drugs
• Certain underlying medical conditions