Dark-skinned are prone to deadly skin cancers

The popular belief that dark-skinned people are Immune, to most skin cancers is wrong, as per research scientists at University of Cincinnati (UC). Hugh Gloster, MD, associate professor of dermatology at UC, has collected data to determine the epidemiologic and medical features of skin cancer in dark skin. The findings have shown that the incidence rates of basal and squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas among whites have rised from 5%-8%, rates among dark skinned for the same period remained relatively same. Although fewer dark skinned people have developed skin cancer, but those who have had skin cancer died of the disease. Dark skinned are 8.5 times more prone to a common type of skin cancer ( Squamous cell carcinoma ). Contrary to established belief, UV radiation does not play important role in the development of squamous cell carcinoma in dark skinned as in whites. The data suggests that UV radiation is not a significant risk factor for melanoma in dark ethnic groups, but is the main cause of the disease in whites.

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