Have you applied your sunblock today? If the answer is yes, you already understand the importance of sunscreen. If you answer no because you have an abundance of melanin and think you don’t need sunscreen, you’ll want to keep reading.
Those with darker complexions may have heard the rumor that you don’t need sunscreen. For years, I’d thinly apply sunscreen, convinced my melanin would protect me. I had the evidence to prove it. I’ve spent hours under the sun without a noticeable sunburn, so why would I need to apply sunscreen?
Skin cancer is the reason. Everyone, no matter how dark their complexion is, should apply sunscreen. Additionally, sunscreen can help prevent other sun damage such as signs of aging and hyperpigmentation.
Let’s discuss why sunscreen is the silent hero that few are talking about.
Why sunblock is necessary for everyone, no matter your skin tone
You may have heard of UVA and UVB rays, but if you’ve never had a sunburn or noticed any noticeable sun damage, you may not know how these rays affect your skin.
According to an article on Neutrogena.com, UVA stands for ultraviolet radiation A, which has a long wavelength, while UVB is ultraviolet radiation B, which has a shorter wavelength.
UVA rays cause wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven skin tone and can penetrate window glass. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and pass through the surface of your skin, causing sunburn. While sunburn is more common in people with fair skin, it doesn’t mean that people with darker skin are immune. In reality, sunburn can appear as darkened and heated skin on Black people.
Hannah Kopelman, DO, a dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration in New York City, was quoted in Everydayhealth.com as saying, “Sunburns in darker skin can lead to pain, peeling, and long-term damage.”
UV rays penetrate your skin like unwanted guests, damaging your skin cells and DNA. If you remember anything from your high school biology class, your DNA is the instruction manual for how your body is created. Without it, your body doesn’t know how to create new cells and can create abnormal and mutated cells.
Three things can occur when UV rays damage your skin cells. Those cells will die off, and maybe not causing a lot of problems. Your body will repair the damaged cells because bodies are good at that. Or those damaged cells could begin to mutate and start making trouble for you.
Now, you’re not wrong if you think your melanin is the superhero in this skin story and will protect you. Melanin does provide some sun protection, but it is more like a mall cop than Superman.
Melanin absorbs UV light before it can damage the skin. However, research shows that what is happening beneath the surface is counterproductive.
In an article in Healthline.com, Dr. Doug E. Brash, a skin cancer researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, stated that melanin provides both protection and damage.
Researchers explain that UV radiation creates reactive oxygen and nitrogen, which energize an electron in melanin. This energy can damage DNA, potentially leading to mutations that cause cancer.
The three most common types of skin cancer among people of color
People of darker skin tones can get skin cancer. What can make the disease worse is that the appearance of skin cancer isn’t as noticeable, which means cancer could be hanging out under your skin without you knowing right away.
Here are the three most common skin cancers. Don’t worry about pronouncing them correctly; just focus on their effects.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is the most common among darker skin and is caused by sun exposure and human papillomavirus (HPV). The squamous cells often appear in places not typically exposed to the sun, such as the genitals. Common symptoms include:
- A painful or tender bump
- A growing warty lesion in the genital area
- A sore that fails to heal
- Thick scaly patches that crust or bleed
Basal Cell Carcinoma
This type of cancer is a direct result of sun exposure. The signs include a non-painful, translucent bump that bleeds easily and pigment flecks.
Melanoma
This is the cancer that killed Bob Marley. It first appeared under the nail of his big toe.
Melanoma is often overlooked, like that spider slowly building a passive web in the corner of your room. Signs of this cancer usually show up as a dark spot in less sun-exposed places, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and lips, or as a dark line larger than 3mm under the nails. The spot often grows and changes into an irregular shape.
The American Cancer Society estimates that the five-year survival rate for melanoma is 70% for Black patients, compared to 94% for white patients. Additionally, Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at a later stage than white patients.
Melanoma is a deadly cancer because it can rapidly spread to your other organs.
Choosing the best sunblock to protect your skin
Even though I’ve laid out all the reasons why you should wear sunscreen, you’ll probably think, “But what about the white cast?” I get it. You didn’t work out for four months to show off your sexy summer body in a new bikini and have a white pasty face covered in sunscreen.
Do not worry; there is a solution: tinted mineral sunscreen.
Black dermatologist Rose Ingleton, MD, shares in one of her Instagram videos that if you can’t find a tinted sunscreen that matches your skin tone, you can apply your favorite SPF and layer your foundation on top.
Additionally, you can buy sunscreen from these Black-owned sunscreen companies to ensure you’re not left looking like a clown.
Here are some additional things to look out for in your sunscreen.
- SPF 30 or higher
- Apply 15 to 20 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure during the peak hours of the day, when the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Use a waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen if you plan on swimming.
- Utilize extra protection, such as wearing a hat and sunglasses.
The melanin in our skin is beautiful. It makes our skin appear in many unique shades, such as chestnut, mahogany, coffee, ebony, chocolate, and more. However, relying on melanin alone to protect your skin isn’t enough. Even the ancient Egyptians used rice bran, jasmine, and lupine as sun protection.
Sure, if you run out of the house one day and forget to put on sunscreen, you’ll probably be okay. However, if you know you will be out in the sun for hours on end, applying protection is essential.
If you love your skin, it’s important to protect it. Take care of yourself by applying sunscreen, and show off your beautiful brown skin.
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