Yes, black does crack. Why black people still need to wear sunscreen

barasa velma

November 10, 2017 11:38 AM

Well sometimes, and if you don’t take good care of your skin.

December is quickly approaching, the skies are going to clear up and the sun shall finally be upon us and you already know what that means – vacaay!

Knowing Kenyans, majority of us will be headed down to the coast for some much needed down time and a little basking under the sun.

As you pack your holiday bag though, there’s one item that you cannot miss to carry – sunscreen.

There’s this common notion that dark skinned people don’t necessarily need sunscreen because we have all the melanin happening for us but that melanin cannot, unfortunately, completely protect us from the harsh rays of the sun.

Why black people need sunscreen

Mayo Clinic explains that dark skinned people are still at risk of skin damage regardless of the melanin in their bodies.

"Regardless of your skin type, the sun's energy penetrates deeply into the skin and damages DNA of skin cells. This damage may ultimately lead to skin cancer, including melanoma.”

So yes, black people still get sunburned but it may not be as much as lighter skinned people.

Getting sunburned isn’t the only concern black people should have because skin the UV rays can also make someone’s skin look older.

According to private practicing dermatologist, Jeanine Downie, “Photodamage in people of color will lead to sagging of the skin, loss of volume from the face and hyperpigmentation. While people with lighter skin tones tend to see fine lines and wrinkles show up first, people of color will see changes in pigmentation that lead to dark patches and uneven skin tone.”

There you have it. Next time you go on vacation, make sure to carry your sunscreen with you.

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