Anyone. Can Get. Skin Cancer. Know the Warning Signs.
It’s a fact: Skin cancer affects people of all colours.
It’s also true that people with darker skin have more melanin, the natural pigment that gives their skin more colour and added protection against sun damage. This only helps to a certain extent, though: People of colour are not immune to skin cancer
- Even if you have a darker skin, always tan or rarely burn, you can still develop skin cancer.
- This includes people of African, Asian, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Native American descent.
- For people of colour, skin cancer is often diagnosed later, when it is harder to treat.
Simply put, if you have skin, you can get skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma(BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause dangerous, lasting damage to your skin, no matter its colour.
What You Can Do: Know the Warning Signs
The most important thing to do is get to know your skin type and protect your skin from the sun. Also, understand the skin cancer warning signs, what to look for, and where to look.
Skin cancer on darker skin often occurs on areas that get little sun exposure, like the palms of hands, soles of feet, under and around the nails. Check yourself monthly and get a full body skin exam at least once a year. And if you notice anything NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL on your skin, contact a Skin Cancer Physician right away.
