NBC) -- Beaches, bikini's and bare skin. Yes, summer's here and for many that means it's time to break out the sunscreen. But even as temperatures soar, not everyone's racing to raise the SPF.

It's what many believe -- that African Americans and others with darker skin aren't at risk for skin cancer. But is it true?

"It's totally a myth," said dermatologist Dr. Debra Jailman. "People think that because they have darker skin that they can't get skin cancer and in fact, we still see it."

Blacks are ten times less likely to develop skin cancer than their white counterparts, but the danger still exists.

Darice Caudle learned that first hand. Her dermatologist found an abnormal mole on her arm -- an early sign of skin cancer.

"For me to have this, I was completely shocked," Caudle said.

Even though she applied sunscreen regularly, Caudle realized she was missing a spot. She was lucky to be diagnosed early.

"There have been studies that African American patients and Hispanic patients are diagnosed at a much later stage," said Jailman.

With melanoma being the most deadly form of skin cancers, doctors say the best way to protect yourself, regardless of your skin tone, is to wear an SPF of at least 30. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 68, 000 new melanoma cases were diagnosed in the US just last year.

"Skin is skin at the end of the day," Caudle said. "It's still important to protect ourselves."

That's why as temperatures increase, doctors say so should your use of your best defense from the sun.