We may have thought only the palest tones need to protect their skin from the sun, but we couldn’t have been more wrong. 

While our darker skin tone and higher levels of melanin do protect us from the sun to a degree, it certainly does not protect us from getting skin cancer. And what’s worse, is that we are less likely to catch skin cancer at the early stage. 

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Why We All Need to Use Sunscreen

Exposing our skin to the sun without any protection not only increases our risk of skin cancer, but it also increases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles way before your time. Furthermore, if hyperpigmentation is something that you're dealing with or something you never want to deal with, then best cover up and protect that beautiful skin! 

Though melanin does protect us more than other skin tones from those harmful UV rays, mortality rates from skin cancer are much higher than you’d imagine. According to an article in Medical News Today, “Mortality rates from SCC [Non-melanoma skin cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma] are disproportionately high in People of Color, with estimates ranging from 18–29%.” 

Where to Check Yourself for Signs of Skin Cancer

Signs of skin cancer can be overlooked because they usually appear in places we tend to overlook. 

Here’s where to look:

• palms of the hands
• soles of the feet
• toenails or fingernails
• inside the mouth
• genitals

Here’s what to look for:

• growths with an asymmetrical shape. 
• irregular borders around the growth.
• uneven pigmentation, with more than three colors
• concerning colors include: red, white, blue, and black.
• large growths that changes over time 

• raised bumps or nodules
• open sores that do not heal or that come back
• wart-like growths
• scaly patches
• black, pearly, and translucent skin growth
• moles that bleed

Takeaway

Protect yourself and your healthy skin. If you’re looking for the right sunscreen for your skintone, check out Black Girl Sunscreen with SPF 30. We want you both safe and beautiful!