2/27/2024 0 Comments Sunblock for black peopleWith this in mind, it is critical for people of color to increase their awareness of skin cancer prevention strategies, including skin self-examination, protecting themselves from ultraviolet exposure, and starting a discussion with a primary care doctor or dermatologist to see how often they should be screened for skin cancer. In the past two decades, melanoma incidence has risen by 20 percent among Hispanic people. This could stem from a lack of awareness and socioeconomic factors such as barriers to care. Black patients are more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at a more advanced stage than non-Hispanic white patients. “In regard to acral melanoma, the most common type of melanoma in darker skin tones, lesions can be determined by their color, size and development over time.”Īccording to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the estimated five-year melanoma survival rate of Black patients is only 71 percent, compared with 93 percent for white patients. “Squamous and basal cell skin cancers will often look like nonhealing lesions that may be painful, grow quickly or bleed easily,” Dr. There are three types: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma, which is the most serious. In short, if you have skin, you can develop skin cancer. Photoaging manifests as fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture changes and benign lesions. Lastly, excess sun exposure leads to photoaging, which is premature aging of the skin that tends to worsen over time because of chronic sun exposure. Topical creams, gels or a trip to a dermatologist can help treat hyperpigmentation, but sometimes the condition is permanent. “Excess sun exposure can worsen skin conditions that result in hyperpigmentation, and many patients with darker skin types visit a dermatologist due to concerns regarding skin pigment changes,” Dr. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when your skin produces too much melanin after it has been irritated or injured, such as by the sun. Sun damage can also lead to hyperpigmentation, in which patches of skin become darker than the normal surrounding skin. “While it may be harder to notice redness on sunburned skin in darker skin tones, patients will still frequently experience warmth, increased skin sensitivity, tightness and itchiness,” Dr. In a survey of people of African ancestry based in the United Kingdom, 52.2 percent reported a history of sunburn. The greater your exposure to the sun, the greater your risk of damage.ĭarker skin may not show visible signs of sun damage as readily, but it’s still happening. Any time you get a sunburn, that’s a sign of damage to your DNA. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause cellular damage in the skin. Sun damage can occur no matter your skin tone. How the Sun Damages Skin-Even Darker Skin “Melanin is thought to be about an SPF of 4, so it is not enough to protect you from the sun,” says UNC Health dermatologist Priyanka Vedak, MD. It’s a common but mistaken belief that having more melanin, the biological pigment in skin that determines its shade, protects darker-skinned people from the sun.īut people with dark skin tones, of any race or ethnicity, are still susceptible to sun damage such as sunburn, hyperpigmentation, skin cancer and premature aging. Dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen, right? Wrong.
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