Can people with darker skin get skin cancer?

Yes, darker skin does not rule out skin cancer, and the American Academy of Dermatology says so directly. This page explains what that means for a check-up habit you can keep at almost no cost.

Skin tone and later diagnosis

The American Academy of Dermatology states it in two sentences. Anyone can develop skin cancer, regardless of their skin tone. When people who have a darker skin tone develop skin cancer, they are often diagnosed in later stages.

The first sentence is the answer to your question. The second is the reason to check your skin regularly, because a spot noticed sooner is easier to bring to a clinician.

Free guides to melanoma and other skin cancers

The National Cancer Institute offers a patient guide to skin cancer, including melanoma. The American Academy of Dermatology explains melanoma as a skin cancer type on its own page. Both are free to read at home.

Dark marks left after irritation

Dark marks can also be a separate subject. A PubMed Central review looks at postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in skin of color, which is about marks left behind after skin has been irritated. A professional look is the safe way to sort one from the other.

A monthly look in good light

Once a month, look over your whole body in good light, including places that rarely see the sun. Photograph anything that stands out and compare it with the next month's picture.

Spots that are new, changing or not healing

Book a dermatologist visit for any spot that is new, changing or does not heal. That advice is the same in Madera, which this site writes for first, in Madera Acres and Fairmead, which have place pages of their own, and across the rest of the county.

The warning signs of melanoma

The warning signs of melanoma are the natural thing to learn next. This site walks through that checklist as a separate question.