Unfortunately, its incidence appears to be doubling every 8–10 years, and the lifetime risk of developing melanoma is about 0.5%.

The main causative factor is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly intense short-term exposure at a young age. Episodes of severe sunburn before the age of 10 increase the risk of developing melanoma by up to four times. Individuals with fair skin, freckles, light-colored eyes, and red hair are especially susceptible.

Early diagnosis is crucial for a favorable prognosis. For this reason, any skin lesion that changes in appearance or behavior should be considered suspicious.

The initial management of a lesion suspected of melanoma is surgical excision for biopsy. If the diagnosis is confirmed, and depending on the thickness of the lesion, further wider excision is recommended, as this has been shown to improve survival. This is usually performed within 3–4 weeks.

As mentioned, melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor, and its most common site of metastasis is the regional lymph nodes. For this reason, evaluation of the lymph nodes is recommended using a specialized procedure known as a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is typically performed at the time of the wider excision.

Due to the high risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis, close follow-up is essential. Monitoring aims to detect new melanomas (a previous melanoma increases the risk of developing another by 3%–5%) as well as recurrences and metastases. Regular follow-up every 3–6 months for 5–10 years is recommended.