Despite assumptions about melanin’s protective qualities, people with skin of color do need sunscreen.

Not only that, they are also vulnerable to damaging effects of the sun, including delayed diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.

Continue reading as we answer why black people need sunscreen and how they can prevent and detect skin cancer at its most treatable stages.

Do Black People Need Sunscreen?

It’s a common misconception that people with darker skin tones don’t need sunscreen. Just like patients with fairer complexions, individuals with skin of color are susceptible to tanning, sun burns, photodamage, and skin cancer.

But further education on this topic is needed as evidenced by the fact that skin cancer is often diagnosed at later stages in people with skin of color, when the disease is less treatable than if it had been caught earlier.

What’s more, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the five-year survival rate for African Americans diagnosed with melanoma is 73 percent, compared with 91 percent for Caucasians.

Skin Cancer Prevention Tips for People with Skin of Color

In addition to wearing a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, with an SPF of 30 or higher, people with skin of color should take necessary precautions to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

These include: Wearing protective clothing, such as hats and sunglasses; Avoiding tanning beds, seeking shade when possible; Staying out of the sun between 10 am-2 pm; and Reapplying sunscreen every two hours, when sweating, swimming, or spending time outdoors.

It’s also recommended that patients with skin of color, especially those with darker skin tones, take a vitamin D supplement to minimize their chances of vitamin D deficiency.

Skin Cancer Detection Tips for People with Skin of Color

As well as wondering, “Do black people need sunscreen?” many individuals may be unclear on how skin cancer presents in skin of color.

While basal cell carcinoma often occurs on areas exposed to the sun, squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common skin cancer in African Americans, typically develops on concealed parts of the body, such as the buttocks, legs, and feet.

In fact, feet are a frequent site of skin cancer for people with skin of color, and the bottom of the foot is where 30 to 40 percent of melanomas are diagnosed in people of color.

With that being said, people with skin of color can take steps to aid in early detection of skin cancer, including: Perform monthly skin exams, pay careful attention to vulnerable areas, like hands, soles of the feet, the fingernails, toenails, mouth, groin and buttocks, and monitor lesions for changes.

To learn more about sun damage and skin cancer in people with skin of color, please call Cultura today to schedule a consultation with board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Eliot Battle.