Abstract:
The rate of melanoma among Asian American has been steadily increasing in the past
five years, while in other Asian countries, such as Japan, the incident rate remains relatively the
same. Does the culture and societal attitudes toward skin cancer make a difference in the incident
rate of melanoma? This survey research investigated this disparity. The populations of interest
wereJapanese American and Japanese living in Japan. Skin tone preference, the usage of SPFcontained
products, hat and umbrella, skin whitening and tanning products, opinion on white and
tanned skin and perceptions on skin cancer were used as premises for comparison. Contrary to
the neutral opinions from Japanese American, the majority of Japanese view fondly of white skin
over tanned skin.There were some distinct differences in the practice of using umbrella,
whitening and tanning skin products. However, there was not a significant difference in the use
of SPF-contained products. Additionally, both populations also share similar perceptions about
skin cancer. Beauty value generates societal and behavioral attitudes. Since white skin preference is
an important aspect valued not just as an esthetic matter but also as an indicator of social class,
skin care practice is prioritized in beauty care in Japan. As a result, certain behaviors in skin cancer prevention practices found in native Japanese diverge from Japanese living in other
Western countries such as America.The results for this project contribute to the understanding of
cultural effects on skin protection and prevention. It has a potentially important role in public
health promotion and prevention in America.
