Photoprotection counseling of non-white ethno-racial groups: a survey of the practice of expert dermatologists.

The morbidity of skin cancer in non-white, ethno-racial populations is well established, yet no specific guidelines exist addressing the manner in which this population should be counseled on photoexposure. We conducted a 20-item survey to assess the behavior of specialized dermatologists when providing photoprotection recommendations to non-white, ethno-racial patients as well as the perceived relevance of counseling for this group. Our study demonstrated that key opinion leaders within the fields of photodermatology and ethnic dermatology believe that photoprotection counseling is beneficial for ethno-racial minorities. Based on these preliminary data and other recently published reports, the development of photoprotection guidelines specific to non-white, ethno-racial groups may be warranted.