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Common in young adults - According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the most common type of skin cancer is found in people between the ages of 25 and 29 and the second most common between age 15 and 29.

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Cause? - Specialists believe that this problem is becoming more common in younger people because of excessive sun exposure.

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All skin types - Melanoma is less common in people with darker skin pigmentation, but all skin types and colors are susceptible.

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Common areas - In people with darker skin, skin cancer tends to appear more on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

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It doesn't have to come from a mole - Specialists say that a person could have a number of moles and not one of them will develop into melanoma. However, the cancer can occur on other parts of the body without moles.

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People with few moles - The illness can be associated with people who have a lot of moles, but even people without them run the risk of developing melanoma.

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Suspicious bruises - Melanoma looks like a bruise that doesn't go away and can also be confused with a mole. It can even appear underneath a nail.

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Known case - In 1977, Bob Marley was diagnosed with melanoma that had appeared underneath one of his toenails. The singer didn't want to cut his toe off and the cancer spread to his lungs and brain, which led to his death in 1981 at 36 years old.

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Rare locations - Skin cancer can also appear in the eyes, although it is very rare.

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In areas not exposed to the sun - The cancer can arise in areas that are not usually exposed to the sun, for example: armpits.

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A significant increase in adults - The people that are now in their 50s and 60s and used to spend hours in the sun when they were younger may be diagnosed with a melanoma that arises through genetic mutations in melanocytes - the cells that produce melanin.

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Basocellular and spinocellular carcinomas - These two cancers are related more to sun exposure and are even more common than melanomas. The probability of surviving one of these cancers is higher than that of melanoma.

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It can be treated if detected early - Like any cancer, the earlier you catch it, the better. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there is a 98% chance of surviving five years if the cancer is treated before spreading to the lymph nodes.

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It isn't limited to people who like sun - This illness doesn't just affect those that like to spend time in the sun. If a person has a genetic predisposition towards the cancer, especially if someone in the immediate family has caught it, the risk of developing the disease raises 10 to 15%.

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Areas of the body most affected - Melanoma can develop in the areas most exposed, such as the face, torso, ears and hands.

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Greater risk of developing skin cancer - Redheads have a greater risk of developing skin cancer.

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The best way to prevent - Avoid unprotected sun exposure from 10 am to 4 pm. Wear a hat and dark sunglasses even on cloudy days as the UV rays can still be strong.

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Don't forget that it's not just at the beach -

Many people believe that the sun exposure that causes skin cancer only happens on the beach. However, we are exposed to the sun several times during the most dangerous hours of the day, whether it be eating lunch outside, taking a break at work or many other instances.

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The most common - Every year there are more skin cancer cases than any other type of cancer, such as prostate, breast, lungs and colon.

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Numbers - According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in every 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

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Devastating - The Skin Cancer Foundation also reports that every 54 minutes, someone dies from melanoma.

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The danger of melanoma - Melanomas are the least common form of cancer but they are the biggest cause of death out of all skin cancers.

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In men - Between the ages of 15 and 39, the percentage of men who die from melanoma is higher than the percentage of women in the same age group.

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Which spots should you worry about? - Spots that are raised, shiny, yellow, brown or multicolored, with dark tones that change color and texture or have irregular borders are indicative of the cancer. Be wary of wounds that don't scar and continue to grow or develop an itch, erosion, scab or blood.

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Treatment - The main treatment is to surgically remove the spot or lesion. Radiation can also be used but it all depends on what the doctor recommends based on the size of the area and type of cancer.

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Comparison - According to a study performed by Dr. Eleni Linos at the University of California in San Francisco, there are more skin cancer cases caused by sun exposure than lung cancer cases caused by tobacco use.

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Tattoos - Several studies show that skin cancer in people with tattoos is more difficult to detect because the abnormal moles or spots are camouflaged in the ink.

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Australians - Statistics show that two in every three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer at least once before they turn 70.

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Professions with the greatest risk -

Among the professions that have the highest tendency of developing skin cancer are bus drivers, airplane pilots, truck drivers and taxi drivers.

See also: Surprising facts about sunscreen you need to know

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