UV Exposure and Melanoma Risk in Patients With Skin of Color

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is a well-established risk factor for melanoma skin cancer in fair-skinned individuals, who are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma. However, research is limited in regards to how UV radiation exposure affects melanoma risk in people of color. This is an important issue to understand because people of color tend to be diagnosed with melanoma at more advanced stages, leading to lower survival rates and worse outcomes compared to white patients. So far, the preliminary research suggests that UV exposure may not be as important of a risk factor for melanoma development in patients with skin of color. This leads to the question: should people of color still apply sunscreen? Experts say yes. Additional research is still needed to clarify and confirm these findings, and sunscreen is still vital in preventing other skin-related changes like melasma and sun damage. If you have any questions regarding sunscreen usage or the right type of sunscreen for your skin type, contact our office to learn more about your options.

Learn more: https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/topics/skin-cancer/sun-and-skin-cancer-in-patients-of-color/