I can be extremely confusing to know whether the sun can still damage darker skin, when you are constantly being told that fair skin has the biggest danger. So just exactly what are the risks to darker skin?
The Problems Which Can Occur With Dark Skin in the Sun
Whilst it has previously been thought that cancer is blocked by darker skins, this simply is not true. It may be less common in darker skin, but if you do have dark skin and you end up with skin cancer, it can often be more deadly than if you had fair skin. This is due to the fact that it is often diagnosed later as it is harder to find and it is often more aggressive in darker skins too.
Darker skin is better protected against sunburn however, as it contains extra pigment. Also, darker skin has increased epidermal melanin which tends to provide natural sun protection. This does not mean that you should not wear sunscreen however, you should always wear sunscreen to protect your skin, and it just means that darker skin has more of a natural protection than fair skin. Generally dark skin has a natural sun protection factor of around 13, and it can also filter the suns UV rays better than fair skin can.
Melanoma is a condition which is common on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands on people with dark skin. This is because these places are often lighter than other parts of the body. Also other skin cancers tend to first appear on the soles of the feet and on the palms of the hands so you really should check these areas regularly after you have been exposed to the sun.
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to wear sun protection. Even though darker skins do have a sun protection factor of up to 13, it is advised that you do wear sun protection with a factor of at least 15. It all depends upon where you live. Some areas have stronger UV levels than others, and so if you live in the Caribbean for example, you will generally need a higher protection level than if you lived somewhere such as the UK. A good way to see what the UV levels will be like daily, you should watch your local weather report which will tell you how strong the UV levels are going to be for that day.
Also having a healthy diet and regular exercise really can help to cut your chances of skin cancer. Eating a lot of oily fish such as salmon, which contains a lot of omega 3, can help to cut your risk of burning in the sun by up to 33% if you eat it up to three times a week for over three months.
So overall, generally if you have darker skin you are still at risk of developing skin cancer, even if your chances are reduced. You really should not gamble with your life by following research which tells you that darker skins are safe from the sun. You are not completely safe and you need to take the necessary precautions the same as everybody else. Always check your hands and the soles of your feet to check for any skin alterations such as blisters or moles. Always consult a doctor if you do notice any changes and they will be able to give you a full diagnosis. The sun can be deadly to all skin colors and it needs to be taken seriously.
Skin And The Sun
We hear the warnings all the time, but just how much attention should we pay to them? Is the sun really that harmful, or is it just another thing to stop us from having a good time? Unfortunately the dangers of the sun on our skin are very real, and as much as we wish we could, it is impossible to go out into direct sunlight without protection and to not suffer any damage at all!
How the Sun Damages Our Skin
The reason why many people ignore the constant warnings is the fact that plenty of people go out in the sun unprotected all the time, and they think that nothing has happened to their skin. They get a tan and they really do not see what the problem is. Skin cancer is something which they think will never happen to them; however they really could not be further from the truth!
Every time you go out into the sun unprotected, you are putting your skin at risk - fact! This is because the suns rays are really damaging to the skin, and a tan is the result of burnt skin. Nobody really looks at a tan that way, they just think that a tan looks healthier, however it really is the result of damaged skin, and as nice as it looks, our skin really is not thanking us for it!
Sunblock lotion was created for a reason, and that was to protect the skin from any unnecessary burning. All sunscreen has a protection factor, and it is recommended that we use at least factor 18 when we go out into the sun, and more if you have fair skin and freckles. A good way to tell which factor sunscreen you will need is to check the daily weather forecasts. Usually they give a UV rating and basically the higher the rating, the higher protection level you will need.
The worst damage we can do to our skin is skin cancer. Staying unprotected in the sun for even half an hour can help to cause skin cancer. It can happen to absolutely everybody, though darker skins have a less likely chance of developing it. The way to tell if you have skin cancer is to look for any unusual moles or changes in existing ones. You should also look out for sores which will not heal on the skin. Sunbeds can also cause skin cancer, though it is a lot rarer.
The final way the sun can damage the skin, is by prematurely aging it. It does this by creating free radicals within the body. The free radicals often cause wrinkles; hence skin which has been exposed to the sun will age a lot quicker than it usually would. Sun spots also often occur in exposed skin.
The sun can also cause our skin to become thicker or thinner in some circumstances, changing the texture of the skin completely. Overall, unprotected skin does not stand much of a chance against the sun, so it is always better to cover up!
How to Stay Safe
The best way to stay safe is to wear sunscreen or to simply cover up completely. However, in such warm temperatures it is often impossible to cover up completely, so sunscreen is always the best option.
Remember that you should reapply the sunscreen after swimming in the sea or pool, and it does need topping up every so often too. Always ensure that you have the right level of protection. As mentioned earlier, it is recommended that you use at least factor 18, though if you have fair skin and freckles, you should use a higher level one just to be safe!
It is still possible to get a tan with sunscreen; it simply stops you from burning that is all. However, if you are not particularly bothered about a sun tan, sun block may be your best protection. It is more protective than sunscreen, but it does not let you get a tan.
Overall, it is better to be safe than sorry so always make sure you wear either sunscreen or sun block!
Both Louise Forrest & Louise Forrest - are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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