American Indian and Alaskan Native patients have the second-highest incidence rate of melanoma, trailing only White patients in the United States, according to an article published in Native News Online. The report summarized a study published by Townsend et al in JAMA Dermatology, in which investigators analyzed data from the 1999 to 2019 Indian Health Service population-based cancer registry. They discovered that the prevalence of melanoma may have been historically underreported among American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. The investigators also found that these patients may use less sun protection and use indoor tanning beds more frequently than other minority patients. In order to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation and minimize the risk of melanoma, the investigators recommended that all individuals should seek shade when spending time outdoors, wear sun-protective clothing with long sleeves and an ultraviolet protection factor number on the label as well as sunglasses, and apply a broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every 2 hours. “These findings suggest that previous studies may have overlooked [American Indian and Alaskan Native] health disparities and underscore the importance of minimizing racial misclassification in this population,” the study authors concluded.