An interesting new study, carried out by researchers from the University of Miami, has revealed that the frequency and seriousness of melanoma differs depending upon the race and ethic group of the person it attacks.

Caucasian and Hispanic people have been diagnosed with melanoma more frequently over the past few years, according to Dr. Shasa Hu and colleagues from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University's Miller School of Medicine, and the rate had surged by about 3% or more every year from the years 1990-2004 among white men and women and Hispanic females.

Advanced diagnosis of the skin cancer, however, has been recorded by Hispanic and African-American patients.

"Improved secondary prevention measures with earlier detection of thin -- early-stage -- melanoma likely account for the improved survival among whites from 68 percent in the early 1970s to 92 percent in recent years. However, such advances have not occurred in other racial and ethnic groups in the United States", the study authors shared, after analyzing data collected of 41,072 cases of melanoma diagnosed from 1990-2004.

18% of White Hispanic and 26% black patients were diagnosed with the cancer that had spread, as compared to 12% of white non-Hispanic patients.

The research has been published in the Archives of Dermatology.