eli5: Why does black skin almost never suffer from skin cancer ? Isn’t melanin being present mean anyone could be affected?

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eli5: Why does black skin almost never suffer from skin cancer ? Isn’t melanin being present mean anyone could be affected?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

“Almost never” isn’t really true. People of color can and do get skin cancer.

However, UV light coming from the sun is a big cause of skin cancer. Melanin naturally protects against UV light. And since people of color have more melanin, they have more natural protection, and so lower rates of cancer caused by it.

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