AMA puts minority skin care on radar
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The American Medical Association adopts a policy to increase awareness of skin cancer risks among people of color, the association reports June 15. "Hispanics and African Americans are screened less frequently for skin cancer and mistakenly believe that their chance for developing skin cancer is lower compared to Caucasians," the association says. AMA will urge that all skin care patients, regardless of race or ethnicity, use the same sun protection measures, including sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and avoiding the sun during peak hours. The association will educate patients about risks, including the fact that the five-year survival rate from melanoma is lower in African Americans - 58.8 percent - than Caucasians - 84.8 percent. Additionally, the incidence of melanoma among Hispanics over the past 15 years rose to levels comparable to those for whites, AMA reports
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The American Medical Association adopts a policy to increase awareness of skin cancer risks among people of color, the association reports June 15. "Hispanics and African Americans are screened less frequently for skin cancer and mistakenly believe that their chance for developing skin cancer is lower compared to Caucasians," the association says. AMA will urge that all skin care patients, regardless of race or ethnicity, use the same sun protection measures, including sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and avoiding the sun during peak hours. The association will educate patients about risks, including the fact that the five-year survival rate from melanoma is lower in African Americans - 58.8 percent - than Caucasians - 84.8 percent. Additionally, the incidence of melanoma among Hispanics over the past 15 years rose to levels comparable to those for whites, AMA reports. |