Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Cutaneous Melanoma in Skin of Color Patients

Abstract

Skin cancers are relatively rare in patients with skin of color; however, they are an important public health concern because of disparities in patient outcomes. Gaps in skin cancer knowledge exist because of lack of large-scale studies involving people of color, and limitations in data collection methods and skin classification paradigms. Additional research is needed to address questions regarding risk and reasons for disparate skin cancer outcomes in these patients. We summarize the clinical and epidemiologic features for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma and touch on some of their unique features in patients with skin of color.

Keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Ethnic skin; Health disparities; Melanoma; Skin cancer; Skin of color; Squamous cell carcinoma.