There is increasing national interest concerning strategies for the early detection of melanoma/skin cancer. Screening has been implemented on a national scale in an effort to decrease morbidity and mortality from this disease; however, many crucial questions about the proper methods and ultimate value of screening remain unanswered. In this review we apply the scientific principles of cancer screening to dermatology, address the theoretic and practical challenges of cancer screening in terms of melanoma/skin cancer, analyze existing data on skin cancer screening, and identify issues that require future research.