Black skin care is an important topic and comes up every year when we get closer to Summer. This is an important issue in the Black community. Despite this majority ruled answer recent years have found numerous doctors and specialists disagreeing with this belief. Is it all hype or as some have stated in groups on FB a conspiracy to make Black buy sunscreen? I’m gonna go out on a limb and say, “No, it’s a necessity we need to start using”
KERRY WASHINGTON IS AN ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR LEARNING MORE ABOUT SKIN CANCER
Let’s face it. There’s not a lot of money or interest being poured into research on us. Not many studies being conducted just on African Americans, or Blacks as I prefer to use, and many times we are left in the dark about ourselves in regards to our health. Yes, we know the common risks we face with Type 2 Diabetes and Asthma but we still fight a losing battle with some diseases not prevalent in our community simply because we find out too late and end up having higher numbers of death rates. One of those diseases would be skin cancer.
“…although people of color, including African Americans, contract skin cancer far less frequently than their Caucasian counterparts, their mortality rate is significantly higher. The five-year survival rate for Caucasians with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is 91%, however, the five-year survival rate for African Americans with melanoma is 58.8%, a startling and shocking disparity” melanomaprevention.org
One reason for this disparity is unawareness for skin cancer and black skin care. Many of us hold the belief that we cannot get skin cancer because of the melanin in our skin. Another reason is skin cancer looks differently on us than on Caucasians and we get it in areas not commonly associated with the cancer. The most common places are the legs and feet, especially palms of the hands, soles of the feet where there is neither color nor sun exposure and under nails.
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A bump, patch, sore or growth that bleeds, oozes, crusts, doesn’t heal or lasts longer than a month. This may indicate basal cell carcinoma.
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An ulcer, scaly red patch, wart-like growth or sore that sometimes crusts or bleeds could be a sign of squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer can also develop in old scars or areas of previous physical trauma or inflammation.
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New or existing moles that are asymmetrical, have an irregular border, more than one color, are larger than a pencil eraser or change in any way may indicate melanoma. Pay special attention to suspicious spots on the hands, soles of the feet or under the nails, which could signify ALM.
So check your body, your skin for suspicious lesions or moles. If you do see something go to a Dermatologist quickly. Protect yourself while in the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses or sunscreen and even though we tend to have a deficit of Vitamin D, only a few minutes of sun while not wearing sunscreen three times a week is all that is needed to get it.
Skincare & Beauty : How To Get Great Skin & Feel Beautiful
Don’t fool yourself into thinking our melanin is all we need to us. Black skin care is necessary and protecting our blackness from the sun is real. We can get skin cancer so take heed and know better safe is always better than being sorry later.
Protect your beauty by taking black skin care seriously,
Sabrina
Thank you for sharing this. We have also covered skin cancer in the Black community, after meeting a woman whose father died from the disease. It’s so important to raise awareness on this topic!
Really important elements I got today from there, black hair is my fashion but it may important to maintain hair properly. Thanks to you for sharing this awesome informative content.