As the summer heats up many people will begin to spend a lot more time outdoors playing sports, grilling or just hanging at the beach. But all of these activities can be exposing people to something much more serious than a tan or sunburn.
Brown-skin Americans, especially Latina's and African-American women, may not be as careful with their sun safety habits as their white counterparts, but they should be because skin cancer doesn't only affect white people it affects everyone.
Maritza Perez, an associate clinical professor at Columbia University in New York, shed some light on some of the myths surrounding skin cancer on Latina's website.
Myth: There is only one type of skin cancer.
Facts: There are actually several types of skin cancer. The two common types are non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma. There are also basal cell cancer and squamous cell skin cancer. Both these cancers usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun. Unlike basal, squamous cell cancer sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and organs inside the body. Melanoma occurs much less frequently than basal and squamous, but it is the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Myth: Too much sun is the only cause of skin cancer.
Fact: Research has found that there are multiple causes for the disease. And not understanding the causes can put more Latina's at risk. Some people are genetically predisposed to it, and other health conditions and viruses, such as human papillomavirus, are associated with skin cancer.
Myth: A tan shields you from harming your skin in the sun.
Fact: False a tan does not protect your skin from skin cancer. It actually increases the chances of cancer and aging. Visiting a tanning bed increases your chances of getting melanoma in your lifetime by five times.
Myth: Detection is the doctor's responsibility.
Fact: Everyone needs to check their skin every month and see a dermatologist once a year for skin body check. Especially during the seasons when your skin is seeing the most sunlight.
"Sometimes Latinas like myself and other women of color have this false perception that we aren't at risk for skin cancer, when in fact, the rate of melanoma is actually increasing for us and can be more deadly," said actress, philanthropist and L'Oreal Paris spokesperson Eva Longoria . "We all need to wear sunscreen daily, get our skin checked regularly and be aware of the signs.
L'Oreal Paris, the leading global beauty brand announced a philanthropic alliance with the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA).
An alarming percentage of American women don't take steps to check their skin for melanoma, 89 percent of that being Hispanic women.
To read more on the survey on melanoma awareness and prevention among women of all skin tones by L'Oreal Paris and the MRA click here.
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