Dermatology & Skin Health

Can Melanoma Be Cured? Understanding the Reality of Treatment and Recovery

One of the most important questions after a melanoma diagnosis is whether it can be cured. The answer depends heavily on stage and timing — early detection often leads to complete cure, while advanced melanoma increasingly responds to modern treatments.

Melanoma Survival Rates by Stage: What the Numbers Really Mean

Understanding melanoma survival rates can help patients and families better grasp the seriousness of the disease and the importance of early detection. This guide breaks down survival rates by stage and explains what the numbers really mean.

Melanoma Treatment Options: A Complete Guide

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, but advances in medical science have significantly improved treatment outcomes. Learn about the full range of available options, from surgery to immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Genetics and Melanoma: What You Should Know About Inherited Risk

While ultraviolet exposure is the most widely recognized risk factor for melanoma, genetics plays an important and sometimes underappreciated role. This article explains how genetics influences melanoma risk, what specific genetic factors matter, who should consider genetic testing, and how inherited risk affects approaches to prevention and surveillance.

Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer: What You Need to Know

Sun exposure is the most important environmental cause of skin cancer. Understanding how ultraviolet radiation damages the skin, what specific exposure patterns matter, and how effective sun protection can substantially reduce risk supports informed decisions that protect long-term skin health.

Who Is at Risk for Melanoma? Understanding the Key Risk Factors

Melanoma can affect anyone with skin, but the risk varies substantially among individuals based on a combination of inherited and modifiable factors. Understanding individual risk supports informed decisions about surveillance, sun protection, and when to seek evaluation for concerning lesions.

Dermoscopy: What Dermatologists Look For When Examining Skin Lesions

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that allows dermatologists to examine skin lesions beneath the surface, significantly improving early melanoma detection and accuracy.

Skin Biopsy Explained: What to Expect Before, During, and After the Procedure

A skin biopsy is the definitive way to determine what a concerning skin lesion actually is. This article explains what a skin biopsy involves, the different techniques used, what patients can expect before, during, and after the procedure, and what happens once results are available.

How Is Melanoma Diagnosed? Skin Examination, Dermoscopy, and Biopsy

The diagnosis of melanoma involves a sequence of steps that progresses from initial visual assessment to definitive pathological confirmation. This article explains the diagnostic process, what each step involves, what patients can expect, and how the various techniques work together to produce accurate diagnosis.

Melanoma vs Benign Mole: How to Tell the Difference

Most moles are harmless, but some can develop into melanoma. Learn the key visual and structural differences between a benign mole and a suspicious lesion, and when to seek medical evaluation.

When Should You Worry About a Mole? Warning Signs Explained

Most moles are harmless—but some can develop into melanoma. Learn which warning signs require medical attention, how to use the ABCDE rule, and when to seek evaluation.

Early Signs of Melanoma: The ABCDE Rule Explained

The ABCDE rule provides a memorable framework for identifying concerning features in skin lesions and detecting melanoma at early stages where treatment is most effective. Combined with the ugly duckling sign and recognition of specific warning symptoms, this framework supports comprehensive evaluation and early detection.

What Is Melanoma? Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells in the skin. While it accounts for a smaller proportion of skin cancers, it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. The encouraging reality is that melanoma is highly treatable when identified at early stages.

Melanoma: Early Detection Saves Lives — The "Ugly Duckling" Sign Explained

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer — yet when detected early, it is highly treatable. This article explains the ABCDE rule, the 'Ugly Duckling' sign, diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates.

Prof. Arnon Cohen, MD, MPH, PhD