Melanoma is a skin disease in which there are alterations to the melanocytes, the cells that produce colour or pigment in the skin, named melanin. This condition usually affects adults, although it can occasionally develop in children and teenagers. Melanoma normally affects adults, but it can also occasionally affect children and teenagers.

The most dangerous and less common form of melanoma is skin cancer. Although melanoma has a lower degree of occurrence than other types of skin cancer, this is the form that has the highest mortality rate and is responsible for 75% of deaths caused by skin cancer.