Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It is often diagnosed in people with Black skin when it is too late to cure. Though it can appear on any skin surface, common locations for melanoma on Black people are on non-sun-exposed skin including the:
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bottom of the foot
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lower legs
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palms
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under a fingernail or toenail
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groin
Though melanoma is very rare in people with darker skin, when it does occur it is often diagnosed too late to cure. It is best to treat melanoma in its earliest stages.
Did You Know?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 25 percent of melanomas in Black people are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread to surrounding lymph nodes. Receiving a diagnosis at a later stage can make skin cancer much harder to treat. It can also negatively impact outlook.
Follow the below tips to increase your chances of spotting skin cancer early, when it's most treatable. If you notice any new spots on your skin, spots that are different from others, or spots that are changing, itching or bleeding, contact a board-certified dermatologist.
figure 1
What are the ABCDEs of Melanoma?
Melanoma is a deadly skin cancer that is rare in Blacks but is often diagnosed too late to cure.
This mole shows most of the ABCDEs of skin cancer.
The ABCDEs of Melanoma are:
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Asymmetry
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Border
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Color
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Diameter
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Evolving
figure 2
Assymetry
Both halves of the mole do not match.
figure 3
Borders
The mole has very uneven or blurry borders.
figure 4
Color
The mole has three or more colors.
figure 5
Diameter
The diameter of the mole is larger than a No. 2 pencil eraser (6mm).
figure 6
Evolution
The mole changes considerably over time in:
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size
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color
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shape
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texture
figure 7
Hear Dr. Chesahna Kindred of the Kindred Hair and Skin Center share more how you you can watch out for Melanoma.
Care Instructions
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During your monthly self-skin cancer checks, remember to use a long mirror to check your back, the back of your legs, your underarms and other hard to see areas.