Skin cancer in skin of color tends to develop in areas that aren't necessarily exposed to the sun. "Certain types of skin cancer, particularly something called acral lentiginous melanoma, can be life threatening and oftentimes affects patients with skin of color on the hands or feet," said Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, dermatologist and president of the Skin of Color Society.
Nonmelanoma skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas, while typically found on sun-exposed areas on Caucasian skin, generally develop for skin of color on covered areas such as the groin, genitalia, legs, and soles of the feet, which are rarely or never exposed to the sun. Dr. Perez says that these cases are usually not a result of sun exposure but oftentimes due to other tumor-causing factors like untreated wounds.
