A Wren Says

Knowing how into skincare I am, she asked, “Is sunscreen actually a racket?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I mean, do you actually need sunscreen if you have darker skin?”

It’s a good question, and she certainly is not the only one to ask it and probably won’t be the last. Before I dive in, let me lay out what I mean by darker skin by using the Fitzpatrick scale as a reference. It is a way that dermatologists discuss skin color and photodamage risk. These are six types. Here they are as explained by Yale School of Medicine:

• Type 1—Pale skin, light-colored eyes, blond or red hair. Always burns, does not tan.
• Type II—Fair skin with light-colored eyes. Burns easily but may tan.
• Type III—Medium light skin that initially burns and then tans.
• Type IV—Light brown skin that tans with minimal burning.
• Type V—Medium brown skin that rarely burns.
• Type VI—Dark brown or black skin that tans easily and never burns.

For the purpose of this post, I’m going to be referencing types IV and up as darker skin tones.

To my friend’s point, it is true, the sun will affect darker skin tones differently. Maybe you don’t get a sunburn, or wrinkles, or even the same likelihood of sun-induced skin cancer. That doesn’t mean that sun exposure won’t affect you. Darker skin can still be damaged by the sun.

One of the misconceptions is that people with darker skin don’t need sunscreen because they have nature’s SPF. Well, to a degree, you do, but the melanin that protects you also makes you more susceptible to uneven pigmentation. You know how you are concerned that your skin color and tone isn’t even? You know those blotches that make you self-conscious? The acne scars that won’t fade and keep getting worse? Or maybe even outright melasma as diagnosed by a dermatologist? I’m sorry to break it to you, but your refusal to wear sunscreen contributes to those issues. Sun exposure can cause issues for darker skin, like melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Now, how do you prevent it?

As I did my research, the article by Taylor et al (2022) spoke to the need to consider sunscreens that help specifically with to diminish the effects of visible light. While must sunscreens are rated to protect from UVA and UVB rays, there is some research to success that visible light also leads to pigmentation issues for darker skin. Make sure the products you use are not only rated for UV light but also include ingredients to protect against visible light from the sun. This would include tinted sunscreens, mineral sunscreens that contain iron oxide, and sunscreens that contain antioxidants.

So that’s it. Darker skin needs sunscreen, too. Make sure you put some on before you head outside.

Sources:

Taylor et al. (2022). Misconceptions of photoprotection in skin of color. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 68(3), S9-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2021.12.020

Yale Medicine. (2024). Photoaging (skin damage). https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/sun-damage