After she was diagnosed with the disease, she now campaigns for people of color to wear sunscreen and protect themselves from excessive sun exposure.
“I found a small mole on the back of my leg. I was on vacation with a friend and he said, ‘You need to check this mole,'” he says.
“So I went to the doctor and they removed it immediately. A week later I was told I had skin cancer. I was shocked and very upset.”
She was surprised because she believed in a long-held myth: the high levels of melanin in black skin protected her from the sun.
“I thought if you have black or dark skin, you can’t have it [câncer de pele] and you don’t need to use sunscreen because you feel a little protected. But of course I know now, skin is skin and anyone can get the disease, ”Isser says.
Five years later, the cancer returned. “Fortunately, I identified again in time and didn’t have to do any chemo. They only had to remove one of my lymph nodes. [gânglios linfáticos, pequenos órgãos que fazem parte do sistema linfático]. “
Now, ten years later, she is still disease free.
The myth
Isser never used sunscreen as a child, but today she warns other people of color not to make the same mistake through her work at Cancer Research UK, a British cancer research organization.
The organization says melanoma-type skin cancers are less common in Asians and blacks than in whites.
But Dr Ophelia Dadzie of the British Association of Dermatologists explains that when they occur in blacks they tend to be “much more aggressive and detected at a later stage.”
Dadzie gives the example of reggae star Bob Marley, who discovered a patch of pigmented skin that turned out to be malignant melanoma, from which he later died.
“When you examine your skin, you should look at it all,” explains the doctor.
“People with darker skin in particular shouldn’t forget to look at the soles of their feet, hands, palms and nails.”
The doctor mentions patients who thought they had spots on the soles of their feet, who were eventually diagnosed with skin cancer.
Debunking the myth that black skin is immune to the sun’s rays, Dadzie says the misconception likely stemmed from the fact that black people have more melanin than people with other skin tones.
“Within the community, there are people who say, ‘I’m from a warm country, I’m fine in the sun’, which has become rooted in the community, because we have more melanin,” adds Dadzie.
Melanin is the pigment that makes skin dark, but it also has other properties: it’s a “natural sunscreen,” he notes. “It stays in the skin cells and protects against UV damage and UV-induced DNA changes.”
“Melanin really protects, but it doesn’t offer 100% sun protection.”
The doctor also warns that it’s not just skin cancer that people should be thinking about.
How to protect yourself from the sun?
“In dark skin, one condition I see a lot is hyperpigmentation. Now, what people don’t realize is that the sun’s UV rays cause hyperpigmentation.”
Hyperpigmentation occurs when darker spots develop on the skin, which can be caused by excessive production of melanin.
So what to do when we are in the sun? Dr. Dadzie’s advice is: “The British Association of Dermatologists has a triple plan of protection: shade, clothing and sunscreen,” she says.
“That way you can protect your skin with clothing, including a hat. Also wear sunglasses with UV protection. Look for shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun’s UV rays are strongest.” , recommends the doctor.
“When choosing a sunscreen, you should use one with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30, with good UV protection, but the higher the SPF, the better. Make sure the sunscreen is waterproof and reapply sunscreen every two hours, this is very important. “
Tips for protecting yourself from the sun
- Protect yourself with clothes and a hat
- Use at least a sunscreen with SPF 30, but the higher the better.
- Use a broad spectrum, UVA and UVB, water resistant sunscreen
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours
- Take refuge in the shade regularly
- If you notice anything about your skin, consult a doctor.
– Text originally published in https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-62201914
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
