With Skin Cancer Awareness Month upon us, we hear from Doctor, Neuroscientist, and Regenerative Aesthetics Doctor at CULTSKIN, Dr. Zeluleko Sibanda, who shares her insights on skin recovery post skin cancer, including the knowledge gap in treatment for darker skin.

Recovery, scarring and rebuilding confidence

One of the biggest misconceptions is that once the cancer is removed, the journey is over. In reality, recovery is often physical and psychological. Scarring, pigmentary changes, and textural differences can persist long after treatment.

This is especially important in patients with darker skin tones, where healing can lead to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or keloid scarring, which can be more visually distressing than the initial lesion itself.

The broader issue is that skin cancer is often diagnosed later in Black and brown skin. This is partly because lesions can present differently and are less visible, but also because there is a lack of representation in medical education and public health imagery. Many people simply don’t see what skin cancer looks like on their skin tone, so they present later, often with more advanced disease.

Ingredients and products to support recovering skin – and those to avoid

Supportive ingredients include ceramides and fatty acids to restore the skin barrier, niacinamide to reduce inflammation and help regulate pigmentation, panthenol and hyaluronic acid to support hydration and healing, and silicone gels or sheets which remain the gold standard for scar modulation. Broad spectrum SPF 50 or higher is essential, particularly to prevent pigmentary complications.

For patients with darker skin, I am often more cautious and proactive around pigment control, sometimes introducing ingredients such as azelaic acid or low-strength retinoids at the appropriate stage.

In the early phases, it is best to avoid harsh exfoliants such as AHAs or BHAs, aggressive retinoids too soon, fragrance heavy or sensitising products, and overuse of so called natural remedies that can trigger irritation. The key is timing and sequencing. Introducing actives too early can worsen scarring or pigmentation.

What is the one piece of advice you would give someone after treatment?

Think of your skin as being in a rehabilitation phase. The priority is protection, repair, and patience. Rushing into treatments or trying to fix the skin too quickly is one of the most common reasons for poor long-term outcomes, particularly for people of colour.

What questions are patients asking most in consultations?

The most common questions I hear are whether the scar will fade completely, why the skin is darker or lighter in the area, when they can return to their normal routine, and whether the cancer is likely to come back.

In patients with darker skin tones, there is often an additional layer of questioning around why it was not picked up earlier and why nothing they have seen online looks like their skin. That reflects a real gap in education and representation.

What recovery concerns come up repeatedly?

Across all skin types, concerns centre around scarring, sensitivity, and recurrence. In darker skin specifically, I see repeated concerns around persistent pigmentation changes, uneven skin tone that can last for months or even years, keloid or hypertrophic scarring, and a feeling that the outcome is more noticeable than expected. There is often frustration because patients feel the aesthetic impact was not fully discussed beforehand.

Have you noticed mistakes among patients post-treatment?

Common issues include skipping SPF, particularly in the UK where UV exposure is often underestimated, restarting active skincare too early, using social media-driven quick fixes, not seeking follow up for pigmentation or scarring early enough, and assuming darker skin does not require ongoing sun protection.

Another critical issue is delayed re-presentation, especially in Black patients, due to the belief that skin cancer is rare in darker skin. While incidence is lower, outcomes are often worse due to later diagnosis.