Does melanoma usually take several years of sun damage to develop? or can it just take a few months of sun damage?

Besides the duration and intensity of solar exposure, the risk of melanoma varies with the amount of pigment in the skin and its ability to tan .Thus people with fair , pale white skin , and albinism, have the highest risk even with brief exposure to intense sunlight. Intermittent and repeated exposure during childhood can also increase the risk , emphasizing the importance of using sunscreen.