Melanoma can be deadly once it has spread from its primary site. It is important to catch it in its early stages when the cure rate is high. Light skinned individuals seem to be more susceptible to melanoma and incidence has increased in recent decades, however less is known about the incidence among non-whites.

The Archives of Internal Medicine published a report that said although melanoma is less common in non-white individuals, it tends to be diagnosed at a later stage. They explored the racial and ethnic differences in the frequency, presentation, and outcome of melanoma. They looked at White, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American and American Indian races. The study included 50,000 patients. What was found was that the probability of being diagnosed with Stage IV disease was more than two fold higher among Asians than Whites. It was more than three fold higher among Hispanics and American Indians than Whites, and more than four-fold higher among African Americans than Whites.

The researchers noted that "Melanoma is a public health concern for all ethnic populations".