Sun protection is essential for dark skin

Whatever your skin tone, using sunscreen for sun protection is still important.

Sally Vadika

Updated by Daphne Yao

For those who think their skin color frees them from having to worry about sun protection, dermatologists have given the message: the sun’s harmful rays make no difference. “Ultraviolet (UV) rays cause color blindness, so they affect all skin with the same intensity,” says Dr. Maritza Perez, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.

“Darker skin contains more melanin [pigmento que da color a la piel] than lighter skin, and it helps prevent rays from penetrating and causing a lot of damage,” Perez says. “But even the darkest black skin has a sun protection factor, or SPF, of only about 13. If you get enough time in the sun, you will suffer from skin damage and possibly even skin cancer.”

And for those who identify as black, Asian, or Hispanic but have skin on the lighter end of the spectrum, the risk may be about the same as many white people.

Sun, sunburn and skin damage

A history of sunburn is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, and people of all ethnic groups are susceptible to sunburn. A 2021 review found that black people continue to experience sun-induced skin effects such as burning and flaking. A clear sign of sunburn for white people, the redness may not be as obvious on dark skin, but the skin may still be hot, tight, and sore.

And even if you don’t get burned, unprotected sun can damage your skin. “Any tan, whether on fair or dark skin, is a sign that the skin is sun damaged,” says Mona Gohara, MD, associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

UV rays that cause sunburn or burn can also lead to skin aging. “Photodamage in people of color causes skin laxity, loss of facial volume, and hyperpigmentation,” says Janine Downey, MD, a private practice dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. “While people with fair skin tones tend to be the first to notice fine lines and wrinkles, people of color notice pigmentation changes that lead to dark spots. [melasma] and uneven skin tone as a result of sun damage.

Skin cancer risk

Asians, blacks, and Hispanics have significantly lower rates of skin cancer than whites. But they are not insured. For example, in a study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control, Asian men who were exposed to more sun as children were three times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer that is not usually fatal but can be disfiguring) . than those with less exposure to the sun. Among the Asian women in the study, those who tanned the most in their lives had a 4.5-fold increased risk. The incidence of melanoma, a potentially fatal type of skin cancer, remains 1 in 167 among Hispanics and 1 in 1,000 among non-Hispanic blacks, according to the American Cancer Society.

Skin cancer is often diagnosed later in people of color. This is partly due to a lack of awareness of the risks, since skin cancer can look very different and appear on different parts of the body (such as the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet). “Even doctors don’t often think about skin cancer when they treat people of color,” says Downey. As a result, skin cancer is more difficult to treat and, in the case of melanoma, more deadly to non-whites.

“I think perhaps the most important conversation about skin cancer is the differences that exist within it,” says Jenna Lester, MD, director of the Skin of Color Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco. “Why are there such drastic differences in mortality rates, despite the fact that skin cancer is much less common in blacks, Hispanics and Asians than whites?

How to find the right sunscreen for your skin

In a 2022 American Academy of Dermatology survey of over 1,000 adults, two-thirds of respondents say they often forget to reapply sunscreen.

For people with darker skin and little protection that extra melanin provides, it might be tempting to skimp. But even if you don’t burn or worry about skin cancer, sun protection is key to keeping your skin healthy. “The biggest benefit of using sunscreen for brown-skinned patients is that it helps minimize skin discoloration and premature wrinkling,” says Crystal Aguh, MD, director of the Ethnic Skin Program at the Johns Hopkins College of Medicine in Baltimore. . “Skin discoloration is one of the most common complaints in brown-skinned patients, and regular use of sunscreen is an important component of the treatment regimen.” The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily.

It is also important to take other sun protection measures, such as covering up with clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, seeking shade, and, if possible, avoiding the sun between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when it is most active. This is true regardless of skin tone, but for dark-skinned people, new evidence suggests that visible sunlight that sunscreen does not filter plays an important role in pigmentation changes. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

One of the barriers to using sunscreen is finding one that suits your skin. “The biggest concern for my dark-skinned patients is the cosmetic appearance of sunscreen after it is applied,” says Lester. “Too many products give your skin a light tone.”

That’s why Lester suggests trying less expensive drugstore brands so you can try a few options.

When testing CR sun protection, our professional team of sensory testers found that the following highest-protection sunscreens on our list (listed in alphabetical order) left a slight film on the skin and did not give it a chalky look.

Sunscreen Black Girl Make It Glow Spray SPF 30

Equate Ultra Lotion (Walmart) SPF 50

Neutrogena Beach Defense Water+Sun Spray SPF 50

Spray Trader Joe’s SPF 50+

Some recent research has questioned the safety of certain active chemical ingredients in sunscreens, especially oxybenzone. This UV filter can penetrate the skin, and all animal studies indicate that it is endocrine disrupting, meaning it can mimic or interfere with the body’s own hormones.

Experts warn that this news shouldn’t keep you from using sunscreen. “We know that UV exposure is a risk factor for certain skin cancers, although we don’t yet know the implications of these studies,” says Lester.

One option is to find a natural sunscreen that contains mineral ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that are not absorbed through the skin. But for people with darker skin, mineral sunscreens can turn them whitish and ashy. In addition, in CR tests, mineral sunscreens consistently score lower for sun protection.

Consumer Reports is an independent non-profit organization that works with consumers to create a fairer, safer and healthier world. CR does not advertise products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent non-profit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe and healthy world. CR does not advertise products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.