Is skin cancer less likely in darker skin?

Is skin cancer less likely in darker skin?

Yes. People with darker skin produce more melanin. That does help protect the skin.

Why is skin cancer rare in dark skin?

The low incidence of skin cancers in darker skinned groups is primarily a result of photo-protection provided by increased epidermal melanin, which filters twice as much ultraviolet (UV) radiation as does that in the epidermis of Caucasians (Montagna and Carlisle, 1991).

Why is fair skin more prone to skin cancer than the dark skin?

Skin cancer is more common in fair skinned people because they have less of the protective pigment called melanin. People with darker skin are less likely to get skin cancer.

Can you get skin cancer if you have dark skin?

People of all colors, including those with brown and black skin, get skin cancer. Even if you never sunburn, you can get skin cancer. When skin cancer develops in people of color, it’s often in a late stage when diagnosed. This can be deadly when the person has melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can spread quickly.

Are people with less melanin more likely to get skin cancer?

“People with dark skin may have the misconception that they are immune to skin cancer because their skin has more melanin – or pigment,” says Ana Ciurea, M.D. “While they are less likely to get skin cancer, they are still at risk.”

What are some disadvantages of dark skin?

Nature selects for less melanin when ultraviolet radiation is weak. In such an environment, very dark skin is a disadvantage because it can prevent people from producing enough vitamin D, potentially resulting in rickets disease in children and osteoporosis in adults.

Do blacks need sunscreen?

Yes! Everyone, including those with dark skin, need to wear sunscreen every day. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is one that protects from both the damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Why is melanin so important?

Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for our beautiful variety of skin tones and shades, eye colors, and hair colors. Not only does melanin provide pigmentation for human skin, hair, and eyes, it also provides protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

For many with dark skin, melanoma or skin cancer may seem like a far-off possibility, something that only happens to light-skinned people. The reality is that skin cancer can occur in any skin type, and while it is less common for people with dark(er) skin, it is often deadlier as it is usually detected in the later stages.

Why are dark-skinned people at lower risk for skin cancer?

Why are dark-skinned people at lower risk for skin cancer? The melanin pigment in dark skin acts like a weak sunscreen, although it blocks more UVB than UVA. This doesn’t mean that people with dark skin, such as African Americans, and Native Americans, are immune to skin cancer.

Do different skin types get skin cancer differently?

People with darker skin also tend to get skin cancer in different locations than people with fair skin. “For example, in African Americans and Asians, we see it more often on their nails, hands and feet,” Dr. Kyei says.

How does BCC affect people with dark skin tones?

In people with dark skin tones, BCC can be pigmented (dark). Lesions that typically develop on sun-exposed skin in white persons may appear in less typical locations in people with dark skin tones. Because providers and patients may not recognize a lesion as skin cancer, it may take longer to diagnose.