MC1R and melanoma: Factors that increase the risk for melanoma include: i) fair skin, that easily burns in the sun; ii) the presence of numerous common naevi, large congenital naevi or atypical (dysplastic) naevi, commonly genetically determined (7, 8); iii) exposure to UV irradiation, in particular high and intermittent sun exposure (9); iv) genetic susceptibility, as inherited variants of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R); v) a family history of melanoma.