Risk Factors for Melanoma Risk factors for melanoma include Sun exposure, particularly repeated blistering sunburns Repeated tanning with ultraviolet A (UVA) or psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) treatments Nonmelanoma skin cancer Family and personal history of melanoma Fair skin, freckling Atypical moles, particularly > 5 Increased numbers of melanocytic nevi Immunosuppression Lentigo maligna Congenital melanocytic nevus > 20 cm (giant congenital nevi) Atypical mole syndrome (dysplastic nevus syndrome) Familial atypical mole-melanoma syndrome Advanced age Patients with a personal history of melanoma have an increased risk of additional melanomas.