Do People With Dark Skin Need SPF Every Day? Artesano Toquilla Straw Fan
Summer officially starts this Saturday. We can’t avoid those additional hours of sunshine. So we need to make sure we protect our skin, the largest organ of the body. Let’s dig deeper, and ask the question, do people with dark skin need SPF every day?

Target's Black Girl Sunscreen

Whether you’re in front of the computer screen near a window or stepping out for fresh air, you need to wear SPF (sun protection factor) daily. Why? Appropriately used, certain sunscreens help protect human skin from some of the sun’s damaging UV radiation. 

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All types of radiation that hit the earth can cause skin cancer. It’s worth noting the differences in UV radiation.  There are three types:

UVA rays:  Longwave ultraviolet radiation that mainly responsible for premature aging.
UVB rays:  Short wave ultraviolet radiation that’s mainly responsible sunburns.
UVC rays:  The ozone layers absorb them before they can reach the earth.

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Location: Historic Fort Hunter Mansion and Park. I shopped my closet for this Macy’s Calvin Klein White Eyelets Shirtdress. Accessories: Banana Republic Zebra Print Animal Hair Belt with Steve Madden Mari Ankle-tie Yellow Pumps and Artesano Okinawa Handwoven Toquilla Straw Fan.

Because of the Coronavirus outbreak, I’ve spent more hours indoors except for when I intentionally took the time to upgrade my backyard sanctuary.  

My SPF choices for my dark skin
MY SPFs: Target Black Girl Sunscreen, Neora Age IG Invisi-Bloc Sunscreen Gel, and SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense.

One of the best tips I ever received for taking care of my aging skin, wear a good SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.  I first learned the importance of SPF, my initial visit to a dermatologist nearly twenty years ago. I believe the addition of an everyday SPF helps me fight off the wrinkles.

Melanin is a naturally occurring pigment in the body that is responsible for the color of your skin. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin. Melanin offers some natural protection against UVB radiation. Dark skin naturally occurring SPF of 13.4, whereas light skin, a natural SPF of only 3.4.

The bottom line, people with dark skin, do need SPF every day. Google “Do Black People Need Sunscreen?  You get over 70 million results that all emphasize a resounding yes. 

Final note: There are non-chalky choices when the product doesn’t contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.  If you wear foundation, most provide some level of SPF to give you some protection.  I use a separate application of SPF 30 or higher daily as part of my daily routine.

As always, thank you for reading. Please stay safe Corona is still lurking about the world.

Eugenia, Age of Grace