If you’re a person of color, you should take precautions against skin cancer, just as light-skinned people should, according to a new review and set of recommendations in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
In particular, it advised monthly skin self-exams, with special attention paid to areas not typically exposed to the sun.
People of color are less likely to develop skin cancer than white people, but when they do, it is likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage. About one-third of all cases of melanoma (the most deadly type of skin cancer) in people of color are diagnosed on the soles of the feet. Squamous cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer in black Americans, often develops on the buttocks, hips, legs or feet.
If you see any spots on your skin that change, itch, or bleed or any lesions or ulcers that won’t heal, show them to your doctor.