Protect your melanin! 6 reasons black folks need healthy skincare this summer

A black dermatologist gives the inside scoop on how-to stay safe in the sun.

One of the biggest myths out there is that black folks don’t need to worry about the sun.

While people with brown skin may not visibly or easily “burn” or need a tan, melanin of all shades needs protection, rejuvenation and general self care.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your skin is in fact the largest organ on your body and deserves the highest levels of care.

We chatted with a 20-year veteran dermatologist, Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, about how to prepare our many beautiful shades of brown for summer.  Here are her top tips and insights:

1. Your melanin is an advantage, but it needs support.

“Think of your melanin as a filter. It is not a block,” says Dr. Ingleton.  “The sun still gets through it. It’s just a layer that sun has to get through first, so you have a little protection.  If you don’t use any sunscreen at all, ultimately you are going to tan.  But ultimately you are also destroying your collagen that’s deep in your skin– that’s what we worry about with the sun.”

2. Black folks do get skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, per the CDC.  While we are in the minority, black people still represent 1 percent of new skin cancer cases.

“We also worry that [our] skin cells are going to change, and you could get skin….

Read More: Protect your melanin! 6 reasons black folks need healthy skincare this summer