A few years ago I asked this exact same question: "Why should I use sunscreen as a black woman?" After all, black don't crack!
The bad news is Black and Brown does crack - a lot!
Everyone needs sun protection, no matter how dark you are. 90% of Melanomas are caused by UV radiation (yes even if you don't "stay outside in the sun". It just takes a little longer for the negative effects to show up on our melanin-rich skin, and that in itself is a disadvantage, because it means by the time we notice how bad things really are, the damage is often irreversible.
The good news?
You can start today to do something about giving your skin that extra layer of protection by using sunscreen - yes, even in the winter months because UVA rays that cause wrinkles, premature aging and cell damage are just as strong even when the sun isn't so high up in the sky.
Beyond preventing sunburn, you do need sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer. Yes, skin cancer is less prevalent in our community, the danger is when it does happen, it's usually too late because again the side effects of the sun on our skin take longer to show.
You don't want to be one of those people who wake up in old age wishing they'd made better life decisions when younger.
You can and must do better for your skin starting today! If you have any personal questions or concerns, leave a comment below or send an email to hello@miahbeauty.com - we reply every email, pinky promise :)