Melanoma is a very deadly form of skin cancer. Typically, melanoma is more common in white people rather than black people. This is because melanoma is usually detected much later in black people which increases their risk of having a more serious case. Black people are less likely to get melanoma because they produce more melanocytes which are color pigments that help protect against sun damage. Darker skin will not burn as easy as lighter skin; however, this doesn’t mean that black people can’t get skin cancer. It is essential that melanoma is detected as early as possible as it can literally save your life.
With this being said, it is important to note that black people who have melanoma are more likely to die from it when it goes undetected. There are a multitude of reasons why melanoma might go undetected for a long period of time. For starters, the lesions created by the melanoma are a darker color and they can blend in with darker skin. Another reason being is that doctors may not take black people’s concerns about skin cancer as seriously as they should since they may not be familiar with detecting melanoma on darker skin.
There are several types of melanoma that can range from superficial to harmful. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common, and because it is superficial, it affects the outer layers of the skin. However, it can spread very quickly to other parts of the body, so it is important to pay attention to the signs. Some of the signs may include a small mole, freckle, or mark that slowly begun to grow. You may also notice a flat mark that becomes more elevated, indentations in the mark on the skin, irregular edges to the mark on the skin, a mole that begins changing shape or color, or a mole or other skin mark that is several different colors.
Another type of melanoma that can form is lentigo maligna melanoma. It begins as a small freckle mark and tends to spread outward on the skin. It looks like a flat patch of the skin that is brown and has irregular borders. Make sure to pay attention if the growth appears on areas of the skin that is frequently exposed to the sun. Another type of melanoma to look out for is acral lentiginous melanoma. It is commonly found on the soles of your feet or under your nails. They typically begin as a dark spot and will eventually develop into sores. Nodular melanoma is the most dangerous form of melanoma because it is an aggressive cancer that grows quickly and spreads throughout the body. This type of melanoma will look like a growth that sticks out of the skin and may look red, pink, and blue.
It is important to keep track of any new spots that develop on your skin. A general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to look at the color, diameter, and growth that is occurring. If there’s an irregular freckle or dark spot make sure to see a skin care specialist immediately.
