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Show Me Your Scars: Melanoma Doesn't Discriminate
Real Stories. Hard truths. And why SPF is for everyone... no exceptions!
If you've ever had a mole removed, a biopsy that made your heart race, or a scar from a surgery you weren't expecting, this one's for you! May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and at TiZO, we're not just here to talk sunscreen. We're here to talk about the real, raw, human experience of facing something that can happen to literally anyone.
That's the thing about melanoma that most people don't know: it doesn't care what you look like. It doesn't care about your skin tone, your age, your gender, or whether you spent your twenties obsessing over SPF. It's the most serious form of skin cancer, and it's more common than most people realize.
Why We're Talking About This Right Now
Every May, the dermatology world comes together for Skin Cancer Awareness Month. The American Academy of Dermatology kicks it off with Melanoma Monday (this year: May 4), and the whole month is dedicated to education, early detection, and yes, a little bit of uncomfortable honesty.
The numbers are worth knowing. In 2026, an estimated 234,680 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States, and around 8,510 people will die from it. That's not a small number. That's a stadium full of people. And the rates have been rising for decades.
Here's the good news buried in those stats: if caught early, melanoma is highly treatable! A 94% five-year survival rate when detected at an early stage is genuinely hopeful. That's the whole point of this month, catching it before it gets to a place where survival rates drop.
The Biggest Lie We've All Heard: "I Don't Need Sunscreen, I Have Dark Skin"
Let's be direct: melanoma does not discriminate by skin tone. Period. This myth: that people with deeper melanin are somehow protected, is genuinely dangerous, and it's costing lives!
Skin cancer across all skin tones
White individuals have a higher statistical rate of melanoma diagnosis, largely because melanin does offer some UV protection. But here's what that narrative leaves out: Black patients are three times more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage, when the disease is harder to treat. The five-year survival rate for Black patients with melanoma is 71%, compared to 93% for white patients.
For Hispanic individuals, the lack of culturally targeted skin cancer awareness campaigns has led to underdiagnosis. Asian patients face a 27% higher mortality rate from melanoma than non-Hispanic white patients when diagnosed.
This is a health equity issue as much as it is a skin care issue. Every skin tone deserves protection, awareness, and early access to screening!
Show Me Your Scars: The Campaign Behind This Moment
We launched the "Show Me Your Scars" campaign because we believe that visibility saves lives. When someone sees a scar that looks like theirs, on a body that looks like theirs, they're more likely to take action. They're more likely to book that dermatology appointment. They're more likely to start wearing SPF every day!
Scars are not failures.
They're evidence of courage, of catching something in time, of advocating for your own health when something felt off. And sharing them, even just with one person, is an act of community care.
Myths We're Officially Busting This May
Misinformation around skin cancer is rampant and the AAD has made busting it a core mission of this year's awareness month. Here are the ones we see most often:
|
Myth |
Fact |
|
You only need sunscreen in the summer, or when it's sunny." |
UV rays are present year-round, on cloudy days, in winter, and even indoors near windows. UVA rays (the aging and damage-causing ones) penetrate glass. Daily SPF is daily, full stop. |
|
A base tan protects you from further damage |
A tan is your skin's SOS signal, it's a sign of existing damage, not protection. There is no such thing as a "safe" tan. Any color change from UV exposure means your DNA is taking a hit. |
|
Skin cancer only happens to older people. |
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults, especially women under 40. The rates of melanoma in people aged 20–39 have been rising for decades. Age is not a shield. |
|
Tanning beds are safer than the sun. |
The opposite is true. Using tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma risk by up to 75%. The concentrated UV exposure from indoor tanning is not a safer version of the sun ,it's an amplified one. |
Know the ABCDEs: For Real This Time
You've probably seen this acronym before, but let's make it actually stick. These are the signs that a mole or spot warrants a conversation with your dermatologist. When in doubt, get it checked. Remember: early detection is everything!
A
Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the other
B
Border: Irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred edges
C
Color: Multiple shades of brown, black, pink, red, or white
D
Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser (6mm), though some are smaller
E
Evolution: Any change in size, shape, color, or new symptoms like bleeding
For deeper skin tones, also check your nails, palms, and the soles of your feet. ALM often doesn't look like a traditional mole.
Your Non-Negotiable Sun Protection Routine
TiZO was founded by Dr. Harry Fallick, a board-certified plastic surgeon who spent decades doing reconstructive work on patients after skin cancer surgeries. He saw firsthand what inadequate sun protection leads to. That's why every TiZO product is 100% mineral — meaning titanium dioxide and zinc oxide only, sitting on top of your skin to physically reflect UV rays rather than absorbing them into your bloodstream.
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Apply broad-spectrum SPF every morning: rain, shine, or cloud cover
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Reapply every 2 hours when outdoors, or after swimming or sweating
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Don't forget your neck, ears, hands, and the tops of your feet
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Wear sun-protective clothing and a wide-brim hat when in direct sun
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Avoid peak UV hours (10am–4pm) when you can
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Book a full-body skin check with a dermatologist at least once a year
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Do a monthly self-exam — including your scalp, nail beds, and soles of your feet
"Sun protection is not vanity. It is medicine. And like all medicine, it only works if you actually use it." - TiZO Skincare
The Ask: Show Us Yours
We're not asking for perfection. We're asking for truth. If you have a scar from a melanoma removal, a biopsy, a suspicious spot that turned out to be fine, or even just a spot you're watching... share it! Tag us. Use the hashtag. Let the algorithm do what it rarely gets to do: save a life.
Because someone out there right now has a spot they've been ignoring for six months. They don't think it could be them. They're waiting until summer, or until their next physical, or until it "gets worse." And seeing your story, seeing your scar, might be the thing that makes them pick up the phone.
That's the whole point. That's all of it.
Join the conversation
#ShowMeYourScars #MelanomaAwareness #TiZOSkin
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