Melanoma Education on Instagram: What’s Missing—Especially for Skin of Color
As melanoma rates rise, with a projected 7.3% increase in new cases and 3.8% rise in mortality in 2024, the need for effective public education is more urgent than ever. Yet disparities persist. While melanoma incidence is lowest in non-Hispanic Black populations, survival outcomes are significantly worse among Black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaskan Native groups.
In the recent May JDD study, “Melanoma Education on Instagram: A Missed Opportunity for Skin of Color”, researchers evaluated the scope and quality of melanoma education on Instagram, with a focus on content relevant to Skin of Color (SOC) Of 100 posts analyzed using the hashtag #melanoma, just 12 discussed melanoma in SOC—and only 3% showed images of melanoma on darker skin types (Fitzpatrick IV–VI).
While medical accounts (e.g., dermatologists, clinics) were significantly more likely than non-medical ones to address SOC (P=0.043), few posts promoted essential early detection practices: only 16% mentioned self-skin exams (SSEs), and just 3% recommended partner-assisted exams, despite their proven impact on earlier melanoma detection.
This study highlights a real opportunity: dermatologists and medical professionals can fill a critical educational gap by intentionally including SOC imagery, emphasizing SSEs, and tailoring messaging to improve melanoma awareness and outcomes across all populations. With social media playing a central role in health information, representation, and education, matters more than ever.
