Did you know that the average five-year melanoma survival rate is 65% in Black people vs. 90% in white people?

Why?

Well there are several reasons for this...

1. Though it can appear on any skin surface, nearly 75% of melanomas in people of colour are on the non-sun-exposed areas(acral lentiginous melanoma): palms, soles, mucosal sites and under nails. This means that they are often diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

2. There’s a lower public awareness overall of the risk of skin cancer among individuals of colour.

3. There’s often a lower index of suspicion by healthcare professionals for skin cancer in patients of colour, because the chances of it are actually smaller.

#medtwitter #melanoma #skincancer #skin

This should highlight the need, regardless of skin colour, to use #sunscreen with SPF of at least 30. Although dark-skinned people won’t get sunburned as quickly, they are still susceptible to sun-induced skin damage.