How does a person get melanoma?

Sun and gene: Uv light (heavy-exposures) and genetics (family history of melanoma, oncogene-carriers) are the two biggest reasons. But there are many unknown factors waiting to be discovered.

Sun, bad luck: Melanoma can result from exposure to ultraviolet light (sun, tanning beds) or from spontaneous conversion of a long-standing mole. Rarely, people get melanoma on a non-sun-exposed area and don't remember ever seeing a mole there first, but this is rare. It is also possible to get melanoma in the eye or even in the lining of the intestine. This is also very, very rare.

Sun exposure: The most important cause of melanoma is uv light exposure, whether from the sun or from indoor tanning beds. Uv light exposure is associated with 65% of all melanoma. However, a combination of uv light exposure, environment, and genetics are probably linked in many cases. Hereditary melanoma occurs in less than 10% of patients.

UV radiation: The main reason is exposure to uv radiation from the sun.