| Melanoma is a malignant tumor, formed in | | | | It affects the top layer of the skin for a long |
| melanocytes, the cells responsible for generating | | | | time before going deeper. It mainly affects the |
| melanin. Due to this reason, melanoma often | | | | older age group. Due to a constantly exposure to |
| acquires a brown or black color. In the United | | | | the sun, this condition occurs in the ears, arms |
| States, melanoma is the eighth most common | | | | and upper trunk. |
| malignancy. Melanoma is categorized as insitu and | | | | Acral lentiginous melanoma is the third form of |
| invasive melanoma. In Latin, 'insitu' means localized. | | | | melanoma. It is found in people with darker skin. It |
| It occupies only the top layer of the skin. The | | | | is more common among Asians and |
| invasive melanomas are more serious and difficult | | | | African-Americans. It also spreads along the top |
| to cure. They go deeper into the skin. | | | | layer of skin before turning invasive. |
| Melanomas are divided into four groups. The first | | | | Nodular melanoma is the fourth type of |
| three start as insitu and later become invasive. | | | | melanoma. It is the most aggressive form of |
| The fourth form of melanoma is invasive from | | | | melanoma. At the time of its diagnosis, it is |
| the beginning. | | | | invasive. The most frequently affected areas are |
| The most common type of melanoma is | | | | arms, legs, trunk and the scalp, especially in older |
| superficial spreading melanoma. The maximum | | | | people. |
| number of cases reported, are cases of | | | | In some families, people have strange-looking |
| superficial spreading melanoma. It occupies the top | | | | moles that may show signs of cancer. It is |
| layer of the skin for a long time before becoming | | | | essential for such people to have regular |
| invasive. | | | | check-ups to detect the cancerous cells in time |
| Lentigo maligna is an invasive form of melonama. | | | | and increase the chances of healing. |