Anyone Can Get Skin Cancer - National Cancer Institute [Patient´s guideline]

Is it true that only people with light skin get skin cancer?

No. Anyone can get skin cancer. It's more common among people with a light (fair) skin tone, but skin cancer can affect anyone. Skin cancer can affect both men and women.

How can people with dark skin get skin cancer?

Although dark skin does not burn in the sun as easily as fair skin, everyone is at risk for skin cancer. Even people who don't burn are at risk for skin cancer. It doesn't matter whether you consider your skin light, dark, or somewhere in between. You are at risk for skin cancer. Being in the sun can damage your skin. Sunlight causes damage through ultraviolet, or UV rays, (they make up just one part of sunlight). Two parts of UV, UVA and UVB, can both cause damage to skin. Also, the sun isn't the only cause of skin cancer. There are other causes. That's why skin cancer may be found in places on the body never exposed to the sun.

How can I find skin cancer early?

Talk with your doctor if you see any changes on your skin that do not go away within one month.

- Check the skin on all surfaces of your body, even in your mouth.

- Watch for a new mole or other new growth on your skin.

- Check for changes in the appearance of an old growth on the skin or scar (especially a burn scar).

- Watch for a patch of skin that is a different color and becomes darker or changes color.

- Watch for a sore that does not heal – it may bleed or form a crust.

- Check your nails for a dark band. Check with your doctor if you see changes, such as if the dark band begins to spread.

When skin cancer is found early, it can be treated more easily.


What does skin cancer look like?

There are many different types of skin cancer (such as melanoma and basal cell skin cancer). Each type looks different. Also, skin cancer in people with dark skin often looks different from skin cancer in people with fair skin. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be any new growth on the skin, a sore that doesn't heal, or a change in an old growth.

full-text, related information, images and other resources, open and see please (guide for patients):
Anyone Can Get Skin Cancer - National Cancer Institute