By Kayrisma Harrison
When it comes to skin cancer such as melanoma, many people of color have this preconceived notion that we are exempt from it. In the US, skin cancer is reported far more in white/fair-skinned people than in Black/People of color (POC). Although skin cancer in these communities seems to be uncommon, most cases go unnoticed. In this blog, I want to persuade people of color to keep up with their skin by using proper sunscreens and seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis. Consider this scenario:
There’s a young woman, who always believed that people with melanin were exempt from skin diseases and cancer. All of her life, she was told that melanin is the natural sunscreen of our people. Melanin will protect from all the harmful UV rays that damage the fair-skinned. Little did she know, those messages being passed to her were merely myths that have led others to untimely deaths. She lived by those myths for a while until she learned the truth about melanated skin. However, the lack of proper knowledge eventually caught up to her. On what seemed like the hottest day of the year, she just so happened to be outside. She used a sunscreen that read “SPF 30” thinking it would protect her from the unavoidable heat the sun was giving off. Her skin felt like it was melting off of her body but she only assumed it was from the small amount of sunscreen used. So, she applied more and more throughout the day. One day, she noticed unusual spots on her body and decided to go see a dermatologist. It was determined that she was in the early stages of melanoma. The doctor informed her that it is rarely diagnosed in people with darker skin complexions because it is harder to spot. Luckily for her, the best treatment option in the early stages was to have the melanoma surgically removed. She learned that black people and other people of color can be affected by skin cancer and other skin-related diseases. Now the young black woman could go on with life spreading the correct information.
This scenario holds some truth to it because it is about me. Although I haven't seen a dermatologist nor been diagnosed with anything, the thoughts and ideas that were passed on to me are real. I was outside on what felt like the hottest day of the year, just reapplying sunscreen that didn't seem to be working for me. I ended up with a really bad sunburn and I’ve recently seen dark spots show up on my body in places that were not exposed to the sun. Many people do not know that sometimes skin cancers and other diseases go undiagnosed because many people of color are simply afraid of finding out. But, the fact of the matter is, skin cancer and other diseases do affect our communities and should be carefully researched and taken seriously.
What to know about the myths and facts:
In many communities today, there is misinformation being spread that can only do harm in the long run. If you didn’t already know, African American are shown to have natural sun protection because of their skin (Hadler and Bridgeman 1995). It was stated that the larger more melanized melanosomes absorb and disperse more energy than fair-skinned people. It wouldn’t be hard to believe that this simple fact has turned into a silent killer. I know as a child, I was taught that my skin is my power and the most powerful sunscreen known to man. Little did my family and I know, the sun is way more powerful than we thought. The best way to understand skin cancer in African Americans and other people of color is to know what you are looking for. With Melanoma, the physical appearance will be brown or black marks and can grow quickly as well as spread to other parts of the body (Gupta et al 2016). However, this does not mean that every brown spot or mole on your body is connected to Melanoma. If you are concerned then you should contact a dermatologist to get a doctor's opinion. Did you know that Melanoma is not the most common skin cancer found in people of color?
https://waww.istockphoto.com/vector/melanoma-or-skin-cancer-gm529836913-54090446?phrase=melanoma
Table 1. Discusses different types of skin cancer. There are four descriptors for each skin ailment. Occurrence is who it is likely to show up with. The physical appearance is how it will appear on the skin. And lastly, the treatments (Gupta et al 2016).
In fact, the most common skin cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma or SCC. SCC arises in black and POCs in places on the skin with pre-existing damage (Diepgen and Mahler 2002). So, taking care of the skin and getting regular checks are very important. I want to persuade people of all age groups to take care of their skin and find time to see a doctor. Inform those who are ages 30 and up that skin cancers are more likely to occur in the later years of their life.
In conclusion, black and POCs need to take care of their skin. There are too many cases of skin cancer in our community that result in death. Regularly applying the proper sunscreens even when you are not in the sun is a great way to prevent skin damage. Read the labels and ingredients to know how to properly protect your skin. Yes, your skin does protect you but it is not 110%. If you find something on your skin do not panic, just contact a dermatologist to be sure. It is better to know than wait until the last possible moment.
References
Diepgen TL, Mahler V. The epidemiology of skin cancer.2002. British Journal of Dermatology.146(s61):1-6.
Gupta, A. K., Bharadwaj, M., & Mehrotra, R. (2016). Skin cancer concerns in people of color: risk factors and prevention. Asian Pacific Journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 17(12), 5257.
Halder RM, Bridgeman‐Shah S. 1995. Skin cancer in African Americans. Cancer. 1995.75(S2):667-73.
.
By Kayrisma Harrison
When it comes to skin cancer such as melanoma, many people of color have this preconceived notion that we are exempt from it. In the US, skin cancer is reported far more in white/fair-skinned people than in Black/People of color (POC). Although skin cancer in these communities seems to be uncommon, most cases go unnoticed. In this blog, I want to persuade people of color to keep up with their skin by using proper sunscreens and seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis. Consider this scenario:
There’s a young woman, who always believed that people with melanin were exempt from skin diseases and cancer. All of her life, she was told that melanin is the natural sunscreen of our people. Melanin will protect from all the harmful UV rays that damage the fair-skinned. Little did she know, those messages being passed to her were merely myths that have led others to untimely deaths. She lived by those myths for a while until she learned the truth about melanated skin. However, the lack of proper knowledge eventually caught up to her. On what seemed like the hottest day of the year, she just so happened to be outside. She used a sunscreen that read “SPF 30” thinking it would protect her from the unavoidable heat the sun was giving off. Her skin felt like it was melting off of her body but she only assumed it was from the small amount of sunscreen used. So, she applied more and more throughout the day. One day, she noticed unusual spots on her body and decided to go see a dermatologist. It was determined that she was in the early stages of melanoma. The doctor informed her that it is rarely diagnosed in people with darker skin complexions because it is harder to spot. Luckily for her, the best treatment option in the early stages was to have the melanoma surgically removed. She learned that black people and other people of color can be affected by skin cancer and other skin-related diseases. Now the young black woman could go on with life spreading the correct information.
This scenario holds some truth to it because it is about me. Although I haven't seen a dermatologist nor been diagnosed with anything, the thoughts and ideas that were passed on to me are real. I was outside on what felt like the hottest day of the year, just reapplying sunscreen that didn't seem to be working for me. I ended up with a really bad sunburn and I’ve recently seen dark spots show up on my body in places that were not exposed to the sun. Many people do not know that sometimes skin cancers and other diseases go undiagnosed because many people of color are simply afraid of finding out. But, the fact of the matter is, skin cancer and other diseases do affect our communities and should be carefully researched and taken seriously.
What to know about the myths and facts:
In many communities today, there is misinformation being spread that can only do harm in the long run. If you didn’t already know, African American are shown to have natural sun protection because of their skin (Hadler and Bridgeman 1995). It was stated that the larger more melanized melanosomes absorb and disperse more energy than fair-skinned people. It wouldn’t be hard to believe that this simple fact has turned into a silent killer. I know as a child, I was taught that my skin is my power and the most powerful sunscreen known to man. Little did my family and I know, the sun is way more powerful than we thought. The best way to understand skin cancer in African Americans and other people of color is to know what you are looking for. With Melanoma, the physical appearance will be brown or black marks and can grow quickly as well as spread to other parts of the body (Gupta et al 2016). However, this does not mean that every brown spot or mole on your body is connected to Melanoma. If you are concerned then you should contact a dermatologist to get a doctor's opinion. Did you know that Melanoma is not the most common skin cancer found in people of color?
https://wa
Table 1. Discusses different types of skin cancer. There are four descriptors for each skin ailment. Occurrence is who it is likely to show up with. The physical appearance is how it will appear on the skin. And lastly, the treatments (Gupta et al 2016).
In fact, the most common skin cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma or SCC. SCC arises in black and POCs in places on the skin with pre-existing damage (Diepgen and Mahler 2002). So, taking care of the skin and getting regular checks are very important. I want to persuade people of all age groups to take care of their skin and find time to see a doctor. Inform those who are ages 30 and up that skin cancers are more likely to occur in the later years of their life.
In conclusion, black and POCs need to take care of their skin. There are too many cases of skin cancer in our community that result in death. Regularly applying the proper sunscreens even when you are not in the sun is a great way to prevent skin damage. Read the labels and ingredients to know how to properly protect your skin. Yes, your skin does protect you but it is not 110%. If you find something on your skin do not panic, just contact a dermatologist to be sure. It is better to know than wait until the last possible moment.
References
Diepgen TL, Mahler V. The epidemiology of skin cancer.2002. British Journal of Dermatology.146(s61):1-6.
Gupta, A. K., Bharadwaj, M., & Mehrotra, R. (2016). Skin cancer concerns in people of color: risk factors and prevention. Asian Pacific Journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 17(12), 5257.
Halder RM, Bridgeman‐Shah S. 1995. Skin cancer in African Americans. Cancer. 1995.75(S2):667-73.
.
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