I have never worn sunscreen on my face up until this year. I have always thought its use on the face was only meant for Caucasians. The damage in their skin was always evident. I guess I felt that brown or black skin was strong enough to withstand the damage of sunrays.
Well-worn phrases like ‘black don’t crack’ reinforce this incorrect notion. The biggest problem associated with the sun was racialized in my upbringing. I heard that children shouldn’t play in sun because it would make their skin darker, as opposed to how damaging the sun’s rays could be for our skin.
I suppose many didn’t see it as something that could be potentially damaging for the skin because the effects weren’t instantaneous. Using sunscreen has always felt like a betrayal of my identity and for this reason primarily, I deliberately stayed away from it
Having switched my evening skincare routine to include a retinol serum, using a facial cream with sunscreen became mandatory. I have come to learn the following about skin and sunscreen for black and brown people.
While black and brown skin has melanin which serves as a natural skin shield, it only offers up to SPF 13 protection. Dermatologists suggest SPF 30 to be the ideal range of protection you should aiming for. In other words, while darker skin tones may guarantee some amount of protection, it is still not enough to withstand UV rays.
Sunscreen is not just necessary when the sun makes you feel as if you are burning in hell, but should be used every day, regardless of the weather. Walking in the shade or using an umbrella will not save you either.
Sun damage for black and brown people can also look different over a period of time and many times over the damage isn’t instant as you would notice in someone who is Caucasian. Sun damage for black and brown people can look like hyperpigmentation, dark spots and even premature aging.
While I was slightly put off from wearing an even thicker facial cream because my skin is naturally oily, and something thicker felt as if I was adding to the oiliness I can see the difference in my skin. Protection from the sun also ensures that I can see the effects of other products that I use.
For those who are still put out over using a cream, sun drops in the form of a serum also seems to be a more convenient and easier to manage alternatively as it is somewhat lighter. Black or brown skin is beautiful and strong but unfortunately it is still in harm’s way when it comes to the sun.
