Many Latinos Think Skin Cancer Isn’t Their Problem. The Data Says Otherwise

Key Takeaways for California Families

What You Can Do Right Now

• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
• Reapply every two hours when outdoors.
• Wear hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing.
• Seek shade during peak UV hours.
• Avoid indoor tanning beds.
• Check your skin monthly for new or changing spots.
• Schedule a medical evaluation if you notice unusual moles or skin changes.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Contact a healthcare professional if you notice:

• A mole that changes in size, shape, or color
• A spot that bleeds or will not heal
• A dark streak under a fingernail or toenail
• A new growth that looks unusual compared with other spots on your skin

As temperatures rise across California and families head to beaches, parks, soccer fields, hiking trails, and backyard gatherings, many people are thinking about heat, dehydration, and sunburns. Far fewer are thinking about skin cancer.

That may be a mistake.

Health experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun as a known carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer. The good news is that skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.

For Latino families in California, the message is especially important. While Latinos have lower rates of skin cancer than non-Hispanic White Americans, research shows they are often diagnosed later, leading to worse outcomes.

The primary cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

When UV rays penetrate the skin, they can damage the DNA inside skin cells. Over time, that damage accumulates. Some cells begin growing abnormally, increasing the risk of cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Summer creates additional risk because people spend more time outdoors and UV radiation levels are typically stronger.

Artificial tanning beds and sun lamps also expose people to concentrated UV radiation and significantly increase skin cancer risk.

According to cancer researchers, both severe sunburns and years of repeated sun exposure can contribute to skin cancer development.

Why Many Latinos Underestimate the Risk

One of the most persistent myths is that darker skin completely protects against skin cancer.

It does not.

Higher levels of melanin provide some natural protection against UV radiation, which helps explain why melanoma rates are lower among Hispanic populations than among non-Hispanic Whites.

According to CDC and American Cancer Society data, melanoma incidence among Hispanic Americans is about 4.2 cases per 100,000 people, compared with more than 30 cases per 100,000 among non-Hispanic White populations.

That sounds like good news. But there is an important catch.

Studies show Latino patients are significantly more likely to receive a skin cancer diagnosis after the disease has already advanced.

The consequences can be serious.

The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year melanoma survival rate is approximately 83% for Hispanic patients compared with 94% for White patients.

Experts point to several possible reasons:

• Lower awareness of skin cancer risk
• Less frequent skin examinations
• Delayed medical visits
• Limited access to healthcare
• The mistaken belief that darker skin cannot develop skin cancer

For California’s Latino communities, this gap in awareness may be as important as the disease itself.

Another challenge is that skin cancer can appear differently in people with darker skin tones.

While excessive sun exposure remains a major risk factor, skin cancers in Latino, Black, Asian, and other darker-skinned populations may sometimes develop in less obvious locations, including:

• Palms of the hands
• Soles of the feet
• Under fingernails and toenails
• Nail beds

These areas are often overlooked during routine self-examinations.

Latino Men Face Additional Risk

June is Men’s Health Month, making this an important reminder for Latino men.

Research consistently shows men experience higher rates of skin cancer deaths than women.

Men account for roughly twice as many skin cancer deaths, and after age 50 the gap widens considerably.

By age 65, men are about twice as likely to develop melanoma as women. By age 80, they are approximately three times more likely.

Researchers believe behavior plays a major role.

Men are less likely to:

• Use sunscreen regularly
• Wear protective clothing
• Seek preventive healthcare
• Schedule skin examinations
• Visit dermatologists when they notice suspicious changes

For Latino men who work outdoors in construction, landscaping, agriculture, transportation, or other sun-exposed industries, the risk may be even greater due to cumulative lifetime exposure.

Who Should Be Especially Concerned?

Anyone can develop skin cancer, but risk increases for people who:

• Have fair skin, blond or red hair, or light-colored eyes
• Burn or freckle easily
• Have a family history of skin cancer
• Have had skin cancer before
• Have more than 50 moles
• Have unusual or irregular moles
• Have weakened immune systems
• Spend significant time outdoors
• Have experienced multiple severe sunburns

Age also matters because UV damage accumulates over decades.

California’s outdoor lifestyle is one of its greatest strengths, but it also increases UV exposure. From Los Angeles beaches to Inland Empire hiking trails and youth sports fields across the state, millions of residents spend long hours under the sun.

For Latino families, the biggest takeaway is simple: lower risk does not mean no risk.

Skin cancer may be less common among Latinos, but it is often more dangerous when it is discovered late. Awareness, prevention, and early detection can dramatically improve outcomes.

As summer begins, sunscreen may be one of the simplest investments Californians can make in their long-term health.