Treatment of malignant melanoma has made great strides in the last decade. On the one hand, immune checkpoint inhibitors and molecular targeted drugs improved the prognosis of patients. On the other hand, it is very important to be aware of the causes of malignant melanoma based on the latest knowledge. In this review, I will briefly review the carcinogenic mechanism of malignant melanoma from the aspects of ultraviolet rays, mechanical stress, trauma and so on.