What should you know about melanoma in situ treatment?

In situ describes melanoma cells confined to the outer skin layer in the tissue examined. Treatment is designed to remove the visible lesion and a surrounding border so that cells extending beyond the original biopsy area are addressed. The choice of procedure depends on the site, lesion outline, pathology wording and how the wound can be closed. A specialist may review the slides or request further tissue when the diagnosis or edges are unclear.

Treatments used for invasive melanoma are not automatically needed for an in situ diagnosis. Your team decides whether additional staging or treatment has a clear purpose from the final findings. Read more about [Skin Cancer Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-cancer-surgery/).

Bring the pathology report and a list of medicines to your appointment. Discuss the planned margin, anaesthetic, closure, scar care and when the result will be reviewed. After treatment, follow dressing instructions, avoid pulling or soaking the wound until advised, and use sun protection around healed skin. Keep follow-up appointments even when the site looks settled. Examine your skin regularly with a mirror or another person’s help for areas you cannot see.

Contact the treatment team for worsening pain, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, wound separation or bleeding that continues after pressure. Seek urgent care for severe bleeding, faintness, breathing trouble or a rapidly worsening allergic reaction. Outside the treated site, arrange a dermatology review for a new, changing, crusting or bleeding pigmented mark rather than waiting for the next routine visit.

Ask what treatment is recommended and why, whether the biopsy removed all visible disease, whether the margins are clear, what the scar may look like, and how often your skin should be examined. Ask what symptoms after treatment are expected and which require a same-day call.