Melanoma epidemic: true or false?

Melanoma incidence has increased dramatically over the last decades in most industrial countries, mainly as a result of the large numbers of early melanomas being diagnosed. Simultaneously, a lack of commensurate change in mortality has been reported, raising the possibility that skin melanoma may have modified its aggressiveness as a result of the increased diagnosis of biologically benign lesions. The main data and controversies arising from the melanoma epidemic are reviewed.