Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin cancer is very common. Millions of people get diagnosed every year. Many people get a mole removed and that's it. But some types of skin cancer can spread and kill. Everyone is vulnerable.

At UVA Health, we take your risk seriously. We apply our expertise to your individual situation. Our response to any sign of trouble is rapid and thorough. We're here to help you avoid cancer in the first place.

The Sun & Skin Cancer

A little sun is good for you. Sunlight triggers your body to make vitamin D. This nutrient keeps your bones strong. 

You only need a few minutes of sun a day to make vitamin D. Too much sun exposes you to ultraviolet or UV rays. These rays cause most skin cancers. 

Learn more about how to prevent skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Treatment at UVA Health

No matter what type of skin cancer you have, you can expect care from experts who focus specifically on skin cancers.

Melanoma Program

We have one of the nation's most outstanding programs for treating melanoma. 

We lead the world in developing new treatments for melanoma. We're working on ways to cure melanoma and keep it from coming back. Our research focuses on how the body’s immune system can kill cancer. 

We have several open clinical trials for melanoma. If you qualify, you can take part in these studies. You'll get access to the latest therapies. 

Spotlight on Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery treats basal cell and squamous cell cancers. We remove the cancer, layer by layer. After taking off each layer of skin, we look at it under the microscope. This allows us to see the exact location of the cancer cells. This means we can save as much healthy tissue as possible.

Although this procedure happens in stages, it takes place during one visit. Find out more about Mohs surgery.