Ever hear this at the pool or the beach? “We don’t need sunblock honey, Black people don’t get skin cancer.” Or “our skin protects us from the sun!” Although It’s true that the melanin in darker skin provides some sun protection, it cannot prevent all skin damage. That’s why it’s important to protect your skin from sun damage that can add up over time.
Not Aware of Risks
In 2023 a survey looked at different racial groups to find out who felt at most at risk from skin cancer caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. According to the results, Black people were one of two groups that felt the least at risk of developing skin cancer. Black people participating also reported the lowest rate of sunscreen use. In another study 76% of Black participants felt they had a low or zero risk of developing melanoma — one of the most common and dangerous forms of skin cancer.
Black People Have a Higher Risks of Death from Skin Cancer
These beliefs are dangerous. UV radiation (specifically UVB rays), is linked to melanoma, one of the most common skin cancers in the United States. Although higher levels of melanin will make Black people less likely to develop a bad sunburn, it is not enough to shield us from the effects of photoaging (e.g. wrinkles and dark spots) and the DNA damage that UV radiation causes. In fact, even though the skin cancer rate is higher for White people, Black people die at a much higher rate. This could be due to a lack of awareness, late diagnoses because people don’t know what to look for on dark skin, and medical professionals not always being trained to spot skin cancer on darker skin. Early detection is crucial.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from the Sun
Follow these tips to better protect yourself and your family:
- Wear sunscreen every day, as sun damage adds up over time.
- Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go into the sun.
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, and has a “Sun Protection Factor,” (“SPF”) of at least 30.
- Use about 2 tablespoons of sunscreen.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
Some sunscreens contain titanium or zinc oxide which appear as white or purple on the skin If this concerns you search for a tinted sunscreen designed to blend with darker skin tones. In addition to sunscreen, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and full coverage clothing provides sun protection too. Wearing long sleeves or finding shady areas on a hot day can help limit your exposure. Because sunscreen is not recommended for children under 6 months old a hat, shade and protective clothing are the best strategies to keep babies sun safe. Finally, don’t be afraid to share with others that our skin needs sunscreen too. You might just safe a life!
Enjoy your summer!
Sources
Florent, R., Podwojniak, A., Adolphe, L., & Milani, K. (2023). Racial Differences in Perceived Risk and Sunscreen Usage. Cureus, 15(1), e33752. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33752
Summers, P., Bena, J., Arrigain, S., Alexis, A. F., Cooper, K., & Bordeaux, J. S. (2011). Sunscreen use: Non-Hispanic Blacks compared with other racial and/or ethnic groups. Archives of dermatology, 147(7), 863–864. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2011.172
Tsai, J., & Chien, A. L. (2022). Photoprotection for Skin of Color. American journal of clinical dermatology, 23(2), 195–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-021-00670-z