Black Patients Face Delayed Skin Cancer Diagnoses

Black patients are often diagnosed late with melanoma, especially acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), which appears on less sun-exposed areas like the soles, palms, and nails. This delay is due to lack of awareness, inadequate training among dermatologists, and fewer images of skin conditions on darker skin tones. Early detection through self-checks and awareness of specific signs like the CUBED acronym can save lives, and efforts are underway to improve diagnosis and education for skin of color.