Fact or Fiction: People with darker skin tones are immune to skin damage caused by the sun?

Dr. Mitchell of Mitchell Dermatology sets the record straight – “People with darker skin tones have a risk of sunburn,skin damage or skin cancer due to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Just because your skin has more  melanin than people with lighter skin tones does not mean you are impervious to being burnt by the sun’s UV rays,” says Dr. Mitchell. Because darker skin has a higher concentration of the pigment melanin, people with darker skin types do have an advantage when it comes to natural protection, but it is not enough.

Even though people with darker skin types won’t burn quite as quickly, they are still at risk for skin damage and photoaging and should take preventative measures to minimize those risks. Melanated skin has a natural protection factor of up to SPF 13 compared to that in white skin, which is reported to have an SPF 3.4 and the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a minimum of SPF 30. I actually recommend my patients wear SPF 30-50. There is no data to support a greater advantage to wearing an SPF higher than 50. The true benefit of sunscreen’s efficacy will come from consistency in its use and reapplication of the product.

Resistant Not Impervious

Everyone needs to use sunscreen because all skin tones are susceptible to sunburn and photodamage. No sunscreen can block 100% of ultraviolet light but I recommend SPF 30 – SPF 50 which will block 97 -98% of the rays.

Dr. Mitchell recommends that everyone wear sunscreen for the following reasons:

1. It helps to maintain an even skin tone. A common sign of aging that patients with darker skin tones present to the dermatologist with is hyperpigmentation, dark spots or uneven skin tone.  
2. It helps prevent photoaging. A common sign of aging in all skin types is fine lines, wrinkles, leathery, thick skin and loss of elasticity or sagging of the skin. 
3. It helps to prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US and although skin cancer is not as common in darker skin tones, when it presents, it tends to be diagnosed in the later stages and therefore have a poor prognosis.  
4. It protects your skin from sunburn by UV rays. Let’s face it – sunburns are uncomfortable and ultimately lead to skin damage. 

If you have questions about how to achieve and maintain healthy skin all year round, call Mitchell Dermatology at 419.871.3737 today.

Hope Mitchell, MD
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Hope Mitchell, MD, is the founder and medical director of Mitchell Dermatology and an Ohio board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist with over 25 years of experience and expertise. Dr. Mitchell obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Rochester and Doctorate of Medicine from The Medical College of Ohio, where she also completed an internship in Internal Medicine and a Pathology Fellowship. She also completed a residency in dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She advocates mentorship, education, and diversity in medicine and dermatology. She is the founder of the Mitchell Dermatology Student Gap Year Internship Program. She has been featured in many newspapers and magazines and is also a speaker for Google and Black Women in Media too. Dr. Mitchell is the Vice Chair and Director of Research for The National Medical Association, Dermatology Section. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and a Member of the Skin of Color Society and National Medical Association.

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