Darker Skin Is Not Immune to Skin Cancer

"Salud" is a Latin Post feature series that focuses on health and wellness topics and examines Latino health trends.

Skin cancer doesn't care about skin color, no matter what popular opinions about skin cancer may be. In fact, over the past twenty years, melanoma diagnoses have increased by 20 percent among U.S. Latinos.

According to recent figures, the annual incidence rate of melanoma is 1 per 100,000 in blacks, 4 per 100,000 in Hispanics, and 25 per 100,000 in non-Hispanic whites. While melanoma is uncommon in African Americans, Latinos and Asians, late-stage melanoma diagnosis is more prevalent among non-white patients, therefore more fatal. Additionally, basal cell carcinoma, an abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin's basal cells, is the most common skin cancer in non-white Hispanics, Hispanics, Chinese and the Japanese.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer rates among Latinos have skyrocketed in the U.S. Within the past two decades, melanoma incidences in this group rose almost 20 percent. Now, melanoma is the third most common skin cancer in Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians.

Studies show that Hispanic and blacks aren't screened as frequently for skin cancer. Often, non-white populations fail to entertain skin cancer prevention tips because they feel they they'll be untouched by the dangers of skin cancer. Nonetheless, multicultural individuals should follow prescribe preventative tips, such as seek shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; avoid tanning and never use UV tanning bed; cover up with clothing, including broad-brimmed caps and UV-blocking sunglasses; and use a broad spectrum sunscreen; apply 1 ounce of sunscreen every 30 minutes; keep newborns out of the sun; examine skin head-to-toe each month and see a physician each year for a professional skin exam.

"Darker skin is just as prone to skin cancer," said Michael Shapiro, a dermatologist and surgeon in New York City, according to Cosmopolitan. "At the core of the problem is the erroneous belief that ethnic skin is immune from the sun's carcinogenic rays. While darker skin women may have natural, higher SPF protection in their skin (about the equivalent of SPF 5), it is still essential to wear proper sunscreen to prevent further damage."

Often, there are no obvious or visible symptoms of skin cancers except in advanced stages. Unfortunately, no symptoms mean no diagnosis and no treatment, which is why early surveillance is so important. It's vital to remember melanoma-related lesions look different on dark skin, and more commonly develops on the palms, soles of the feet, toenails, fingernails and in mucus membranes such as around the mouth and genital. However, on fairer skin tones, melanomas more often appear on the back in men and on the legs in women.

Public education efforts have targeted white populations to warn them against the danger of melanomas; however, more effort should be put into creating awareness surrounding the appearance of skin cancer on darker-skinned individuals.