Sun protector: Should you use it even if you have dark skin?

Dark skin people still need to use sunscreen, for more than one reason.

Excessive exposure to Ultraviolet Rays of the Sun It can cause solar burns, dark spots and wrinkles, and a higher risk of skin cancer.

The darkest skin melanin offers some additional protection against the sun, but dermatologists say that alone is not enough.

We all need sunscreen. But the reasons why one could resort to him can vary according to the skin tone, ”said Dr. Jenna Lester, founder of the Color Skin Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco.

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Dark skin people need sunscreen?

In general, white people are more likely to develop skin cancer than black and Hispanic people. However, according to the American cancer society, these people are less likely to survive the most dangerous type of skin cancer, Melanoma.

Black patients usually develop melanoma in hands and feet, more protected areas of the sun. Even so, sunscreen is an additional protective layer that helps prevent other problems, such as solar burns, hyperpigmentation after acne, rosacea and dark spots on the face.

Dr. Oyetewa Asempa, from Baylor College of Medicine, usually reminds her dark leather patients: “All the problems they come to see me are caused or aggravated by the sun.”

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How much sun protection do people need?

To protect yourself from the sun, it is important to use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (FPS) of at least 30 and reapply every two hours. Those who go to the pool or the beach must apply sunscreen before, remembering to reapply abundantly, and after leaving the water.

Most people do not use enough sunscreen when applying it, Lester said. Be sure to apply an amount equivalent to two long fingers in the face and a generous amount in the body.

Search chemical sunscreens to avoid Cinderella white pigmentation. Two key ingredients in mineral products – zinc oxide and titanium oxide – are responsible for that annoying discoloration in dark skin.

Colored sunscreens contain pigments that block the visible light of the sun, offering additional protection against dark spots. In addition, wear a hat or sunscreen with Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) You can provide greater security.

Whatever the sun protection routine, it is important to keep it, Lester said. Some UV rays can cross cars and house windows and cause solar damage, even indoors, so it is even more important to take care of the skin while the sun shines.

It’s about trying to turn it into a daily habit, “he said.” Constancy, not intensity. “

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