Why Black People Should Wear Sunscreen?
Some may say that a little vitamin D a day keeps the doctors away, and while that may be true, too much vitamin D may be dangerous, especially when used without protection such as sunscreen. As African Americans, we thrive off of the idea that black doesn’t crack, and although we are some of the most beautiful people to grace the planet, we must protect our skin and our bodies just the same as anyone else. Melanin is defined as our skin pigment and it also protects our skin from UV rays. Although our melanin is something that protects us, it is not enough to protect us from skin cancer. Some people think the things that you don’t see aren’t happening, but the effects of the sun most often lead to long-term damage. An article by the Huffington Post states,” That damage from the sun can come in many forms, from hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, dark spots, sunburns and even cancers.” Many people don’t seem to realize that many brown people deal with things such as hyperpigmentation and it can become worse when it’s exposed to sunlight. Although we believe that black doesn’t crack, extreme exposure to sunlight can cause early aging.
When taking into account all the terrible things that sun exposure can do to the skin one may ask, “So what am I supposed to do about it?”, and I believe I might have a few solutions. Some of the issues that most people of color have when dealing with sunscreens are that many of the more affordable brands leave a terrible residue on the skin and contain harmful chemicals. Fortunately, in today’s society black businesses are on the rise and are creating more and more products that are beneficial to black and brown people. In 2016 Black Girl Sunscreen was created in Miami, FL. It is one of the top sunscreens for black and brown people because it dries clear, is cruelty-free, and it protects our beautiful melanin from the sun. The best part is that this sunscreen is not only sold online but is also in Target retail stores. Black people have a tough enough time trying to survive in this world, the least we can do is protect our skin in order to continue to express are black magic!
Black Girl Sunscreen link https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/about/
Sources
Doggett, Jolie A. “Yes, Black People Do Need To Wear Sunscreen.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 15 Aug. 2019, www.huffpost.com/entry/black-skin-sunscreen-cancer_l_5d540570e4b0cfeed1a68cea.