Adoption Under One Roof

Yes, absolutely, although I’ve had one dermatologist tell me that my dark skinned daughter did not need sunscreen! On the “Today” show today there was an in depth discussion about  the necessity for people of color to use sunscreen.  It is true that people of color are less likely to become afflicted with skin cancer, however they are more likely to die from it due to a delay in detection. Recent studies show that the five-year survival rate for African Americans with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is 59 percent compared to 85 percent in Caucasians. And between 1992 and 2005 the incidence of melanoma among Latinos increased by 32.4 percent.

Exposure to the sun’s rays is risky for all of us but particularly during childhood because early exposure to too much sun and childhood sunburns lead to skin cancer over time. People who live in sunny warm climates year round must be even more vigilant. By protecting our child’s skin we can cut their risk of skin cancer later on.