African Americans and Hispanics Run A Higher Risk of Dying From Skin Cancer

According to recent studies, African Americans and Hispanics are often less likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer in its early stages and need to get themselves checked as often as possible to avoid the cancer spreading. One recent study of 41,072 melanoma patients in Florida found advanced cases in 12 percent of Caucasians, 18 percent of Hispanics, and 26 percent of African Americans. “There is a fairly common misconception among African American sand Hispanics that we do not get skin cancer,” explains dermatologist Marcy Street, M.D. “Because light-skinned and light-eyed individuals are mentioned constantly, minority groups often surmise that the information somehow doesn’t apply to us because we don’t commonly burn or have warning signs of having had too much sun. Everyone, regardless of ethnicity, needs to get checked and often, especially if there is an abnormality.”

So remember to remind your clients of all ethnicities to get screened for skin cancer often, to keep their eyes out for any changes in moles, rashes, or skin discolorations, and to wear sun protection daily.