Woman's "Birthmark" Turns Out to be Stage 2 Skin Cancer.

A Nigerian-Irish woman, Ilia J. Smith, was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in 2020 after a spot on her hip started bleeding. Smith, who loved tanning in her youth, didn't think she was at risk of cancer because of her skin color. Melanoma diagnoses are the lowest for Black people compared to people of all other races. Smith now wears high-SPF sunscreen daily and does everything to stay out of the sun. Dermatologists recommend a basic skincare regimen of cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, vitamin C, and retinol for healthy skin.