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Skin Cancer in Skin of Color

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Skin Cancer Management

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Abstract

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States. While skin cancer is less common in people with skin of color, it is more often associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality as compared to white counterparts. This imbalance has significant public health concerns. Current skin cancer campaigns focus on Caucasian patients in high-risk groups. There is a paucity of literature on skin cancer in skin of color. Most physicians do not immediately associate skin cancer with skin of color, and little is known about the sun-protective behaviors of those with skin of color. Similarly, the collection of statistics for skin cancer in skin of color is challenging as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are not consistently reported to tumor registries, and many NMSCs in skin of color are reported as melanomas. According to the census projections, by the year 2045, 50% of the US population will be non-white. This changing demographic, combined with the disparate mortality, makes it imperative that physicians become familiar with skin cancer in skin of color so that they may better educate these patients on risk factors and early detection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates, Durham, NC, USA

    Brooke A. Jackson

  2. Department of Dermatology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Zeena Y. Nawas

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  1. Brooke A. Jackson
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  2. Zeena Y. Nawas
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Correspondence to Zeena Y. Nawas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Deborah F. MacFarlane

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Jackson, B.A., Nawas, Z.Y. (2021). Skin Cancer in Skin of Color. In: MacFarlane, D.F. (eds) Skin Cancer Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50593-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50593-6_16

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