Cutaneous melanoma is a deadly skin cancer, resulting from malignant transformation of melanocytes. Long-wave ultraviolet radiation (315-400 nm) is able to damage DNA, cause mutations, and induce melanoma. However, the exact mechanisms of UVA-induced cutaneous melanoma remain a matter of debate. In this review, we give a brief characterization of the most important elements in the photobiology of UVA in melanomagenesis.