The American Melanoma Institute is a national physician-led nonprofit organization dedicated to melanoma and skin cancer education, prevention, and the pursuit of effective personalized cures.
Written for patients and families, with the sources listed on every page.
50 plain-language answers, an interactive ABCDE guide, a self-exam checklist, and a question builder for your next visit.
Open the tool →What your stage means, what usually happens next, and the questions worth asking.
Find your stage →Types of skin cancer, biopsies and pathology reports, procedures, treatment, prevention, and life after a diagnosis.
Browse the library →New papers from leading medical journals, pulled live from PubMed each time you visit.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology and American Cancer Society, 2026. See all melanoma facts
At the American Melanoma Institute, our team consists of highly experienced dermatologists, oncologists, dermatopathologists, and researchers who are passionate about combating skin cancers including melanoma. We are united by a common goal: to reduce the incidence and mortality of melanoma through public education, prevention projects, early detection technology development and implementation, innovative personalized treatments, and patient support.
Clear, physician-reviewed guidance on melanoma and skin cancer for patients and families.
Community programs that reduce sun damage and catch risk early.
Developing and implementing technology that finds melanoma sooner.
Pursuing innovative, effective cures tailored to each patient.
Standing with those touched by melanoma and other skin cancers.
Health information is only useful if you can trust it. These are the rules we hold every page to.
Our articles and guides end with a list of the sources behind them, so you can check the facts for yourself.
We draw on peer-reviewed trials, national cancer statistics, and guidelines from bodies such as the NCCN, the AAD, and the American Cancer Society.
We write for patients and families. Medical terms are explained where they appear and collected in the glossary.
Our content supports the conversation with your own doctor. It does not replace it.
Each guide explains the stage, the usual next steps, and the questions to bring to your care team.
How to recognize a spot that could be melanoma, and what a doctor does from the first look through the biopsy result.
Read article →A line-by-line guide to the terms on a melanoma pathology report, what each one means, and which ones change treatment.
Read article →What SPF, broad spectrum, and water resistance mean, how much sunscreen to apply, and what the FDA says about ingredient safety.
Read article →Skin cancer is less common in darker skin but often found later. Learn where it tends to appear, what it looks like, and why sun protection still counts.
Read article →A walk through the day of Mohs surgery: who qualifies, how the layers and lab checks work, cure rates, wound repair, and its use for melanoma in situ on the face.
Read article →How checkpoint inhibitors can inflame healthy organs, the symptoms that need a same-day call, how steroids treat them, and which effects are permanent.
Read article →What research shows about anxiety and depression after melanoma, practical ways to handle fear of recurrence and scan days, and where to find support.
Read article →How to prepare for a full-body skin exam, what the dermatologist checks, how privacy is handled, and what happens if a spot needs a biopsy.
Read article →Donations fund melanoma research, public education, early detection, and patient support. AMI is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Donate through Givebutter →AMI's 5k Run, Walk and Jog events in Southern Nevada have raised funds for research, education, and awareness.
See past events →Share our patient tools, bring a skin check reminder to your workplace, or listen to the AMI podcast, Friends With Healthy Benefits.
Ways to help →Sign up to receive news, events, and new articles from the institute. Questions? Write to info@melanoma.institute.
