You may know that having many moles is a melanoma risk factor, but is this still a risk if you have a dark complexion?
Have you ever seen a person with a dark complexion and a large number of moles, and wondered if having so many moles placed that individual at a higher risk for melanoma?
After all, dark skin is less likely than a light complexion to develop this lethal skin cancer.
Each year, approximately 20,000 to 22,000 Americans die from melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society (2023).
Having many moles is a risk factor for melanoma.
“More moles is generally thought to be a risk factor, as is light skin, light hair, light eyes,” says Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a board certified dermatologist with Baxt CosMedical.
“Darker skinned people tend to get worse melanomas probably due to delay in diagnosis.
“It’s important to check hands and feet, especially in darker skinned individuals.”
There is actually no data that strictly applies to melanoma risk in people with many moles and fair skin, as compared to those with many moles and darker skin tones.
No research is out that gives conclusive information on comparative melanoma risk for dark skinned people who have a large number of moles.
Nevertheless, the comparison is certainly fascinating to speculate about.
Why is this malignancy “worse” in those with dark skin?
Dr. Baxt explains, “No one knows, but when African-Americans for example are diagnosed with melanoma, it tends to be at a later stage.
“We can infer that this might be due to lack of recognition since their skin is darker, or that doctors assume they have a low risk and don’t look for melanoma, or that they have less access to medical care; there is no good answer, just suppositions.
“But the fact is that the melanomas are often diagnosed later, so they have a poorer prognosis.”
In black people, melanoma often appears in less typical locations compared to lighter-skinned populations.
One of the most common areas for melanoma in black people is the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
This type of melanoma is known as acral lentiginous melanoma, which, while relatively rare overall, is more prevalent among people with darker skin.
Another area where melanoma can appear is under the nails, in a condition known as subungual melanoma.
This is characterized by dark streaks or spots beneath the nails and can be challenging to detect early due to its subtle presentation.
This stealthy cancer can also occur in mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or genital area.
These sites are less frequently affected in people with light skin.
It’s simply not known, due to lack of research, if a dark skinned person with few moles is at less risk for melanoma than is a dark skinned person with many moles, even moles in very sun-exposed areas.
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