From Blackdoctors.org:
The summertime is great to spend more hours outside with our friends and family at the beach, park and places that the hot sun will blaze upon us. Contrary to our belief, the myth of dark skin doesn’t burn and need sunscreen is a lie. The truth is all complexions can burn.
Although darker skin gives more protection from the sun’s UV rays due to more melanin for natural protection in the skin. Its best to not rely on that fact alone. The extra melanin doesn’t protect you against the UV damage that can speed up aging or cause cancer.
The best thing for darker complexions to do is to begin each day by applying a sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF of 15 to 30 — reapplying often while in direct sunlight.
Below are common skin problems caused by sun exposure and tips on how to rescue your skin from the damage.
For Darkening Facial Skin:
Changes in the skin’s pigmentation occur as we age and are very prominent in African American skin. Exposure to both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light stimulates the production of melanin which most likely accounts for darkening of the skin.
There are 4 commonly occurring types of darkening.
• Localized areas on the face and neck
• More generalized areas on the face and neck
• Dark under eye circles
• Uneven skin tone
A way to treat the problem is to adopt the daily regimen of applying a SPF 15 or 30 sunscreen. For those who are experiencing pigmentary changes, a SPF 30 combined with a glycolic acid cream or lotion are recommended. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are a great solution for African-Americans with this problem. It is recommended to undergo glycolic peels and, for sensitive skin, gentler salicylic peels.
For Dark Freckles
Another pigmentary problem caused by the sun is dermatosis papulosa nigra, or DPNs – a benign cutaneous condition common among blacks. It is usually characterized by small, brown or black bumps that are sometimes mistaken for moles. It is felt that a combination of heredity, aging and exposure to the sun are factors in the development of DPNs.
While not dangerous, they can easily be removed in a doctor’s office. Since there is no cream that has the ability to remove DPNs, treatment involves either excising (cutting) the lesions with as special surgical instrument, called a gradle scissor, or desiccating (burning) them with an electric needle. These procedures are well generally tolerated and healing generally occurs within one week. Side effects of removal may include light or dark skin discolorations which usually fade rapidly.
