“The Hispanic community is under the impression that just because you have darker skin, you have a higher amount of melanin in your skin,” explains Dr. Thompson. Melanin is a protective pigment in the skin that blocks UV (Ultraviolet) radiation from potentially causing skin cancer.
In general, the lighter the skin the higher the risk of skin cancer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your skin can color could protect you from UV damage. The Argentinean doctor is committed to educating the Hispanic community about this issue because a lot of Hispanics are not aware of the risk.
“When melanoma is diagnosed at an early stage, 80-90% of patients survive it, but when it is diagnosed at a later stage, you’re talking about less than 10% survival rate,” she says. Melanoma is one of the most common skin cancers and in the U.S., last year there were 77,000 cases of people diagnosed, but that is just an estimation because the numbers could be much higher.
“The Hispanic population is not aware of the risk and they are less prone to using sunscreen, I believe that less than 25% use it, which is quite low,” says Dr. Thompson. It’s important to take the necessary precautions when you’re outside. Use SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreens, the higher the SPF, the better. If you don’t have to be outside during peak hours (10 a.m.- 3 p.m.) when the sun’s UV rays are most intense, then don’t. Wear cotton clothing, a hat and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes from the sun.
