In the past 30 years, there have been more cases of skin cancer than all other types of cancer combined.  Leave it to statistics to take all the fun out of the sun.

Yes, it’s that time of year, again, when you’re poised to have hot fun in the summer time. I couldn’t agree with you more but if your skin is anything like mine, you’ve got to gear up and protect it from El Sol and all of his heat.

My husband always makes fun at me for being a black woman who burns when out in the sun to long.

Why Protection of Your Beautiful Black Skin Is Key

The culprit behind sun damage and the increased possibility of skin cancer is UV (ultraviolet) rays.  UV rays can penetrate deep into your skin’s layers and trigger genetic mutations that can grow into melanoma tumors.

The best way to prevent sun damage is to apply sunscreen and minimize your time in the sun.  But sunscreen isn’t the only weapon in your arsenal.

Wear a Hat!

Remember when your Nana would walk to church on Sunday morning?  I don’t know about you but my Nana would build her Sunday outfit around a new hat.  Her hat would be wide brimmed, sometimes challenging the circumference of an umbrella.

She was one of those ladies that you wouldn’t sit behind in church.  But why did she wear such beautiful wide brimmed hats?  She was protecting her face and shoulders from the sun.
Okay, your hat doesn’t have to be the size of a small umbrella but if it covers your face, ears and neck that would be great.

Limit Your Sun Time

We all know that the sun is at its hottest points of the day between 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  So limit your time in the sun.
If that’s not realistic, wear sun-protecting clothing.  What does that mean?  Wear long sleeve shirts that are sheer.  There are even clothes that have ultraviolet protection factors of up to UPF 30.

The jury is still out on this one.  I know that there are apparel companies that manufacture ski apparel to reflect the sun, so why not regular clothing.

Reflecting Your Black Skin Back At You

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, is my black skin the most beautiful of all?  Check your skin weekly in a full length mirror for abnormalities that might include spots and sores that itch, crust or bleed.

Look for open sores that have not healed within a three week period and moles or beauty marks that change color or texture.  You’ll also want to check for an irregular shape in the mole or beauty mark, whether or not they’re bigger than the size of a pencil eraser and did it appear for the first time after the age of 21.

Sunscreen and African American Skin

When caring for African American skin a sunscreen is just as important as your facial cleanser.  Your melanin naturally provides you with an SPF 15, so adding an SPF 15 or SPF 30 will give you added protection.

Make sure your sunscreen is water-resistant.  When you think about it your skin is always experiencing some water immersion, whether is swimming or sweating.

Remember …

Don’t take the sun and its rays lightly, and don’t abuse your beautiful black skin just because it has lots of melanin.

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care