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Skin Cancer Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception

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Ethnic Skin and Hair and Other Cultural Considerations

Part of the book series: Updates in Clinical Dermatology ((UCD))

Abstract

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. The malignancy occurs less frequently in individuals with skin of color, yet has a higher mortality rate than other racial groups due to misdiagnoses, inaccessibility to skin cancer screenings, and lack of skin cancer awareness. Skin cancer can present atypically in individuals with skin of color, often resulting in misidentification, a delayed diagnosis, and an advanced tumor. In skin of color, basal cell carcinoma is associated with UVR and presents as a pigmented nodule with pearly borders. Squamous cell carcinoma commonly arises from chronic inflammation, appearing as a pigmented papule or nodule on non-sun-exposed areas such as the lower extremities and anogenital region. Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form, occurring in abnormal anatomical sites including the nail beds, palms and soles, and mucosal membranes. Understanding the characteristic features for skin cancers in skin of color and increasing awareness of the malignancy is necessary to improve the outcome for this population and allow for prompt diagnoses and effective treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Karra K. Manier

  2. University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Authors
  1. Karra K. Manier
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  2. Howard I. Maibach
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Correspondence to Karra K. Manier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Becky S. Li

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Manier, K.K., Maibach, H.I. (2021). Skin Cancer Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception. In: Li, B.S., Maibach, H.I. (eds) Ethnic Skin and Hair and Other Cultural Considerations. Updates in Clinical Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64830-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64830-5_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-64829-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-64830-5

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