Black Girl Sunscreen refutes New York Times article

All skin needs protection from the sun.

As the summer weather heats up, the conversation around skin protection for people of color has been a hot discussion. A recent New York Times article discussed their take on the topic claiming there is no clear answer to if black people need sunscreen. This stance is exactly why black communities often have doubts around this topic. At Black Girl Sunscreen, we’re passionate about advocating for skin protection for black people. Here’s our take on why black people should wear sunscreen.

The NYT Article On Sunscreen For Black People

For those who read the NYT article covering skin protection for black people, you may have seen the conclusion suggesting that skin cancer for black people in often unrelated to sun exposure. This statement could not be farther from what we stand by at Black Girl Sunscreen. 

Fox 2 Detroit featured Black Girl Sunscreen founder, Shontay Lundy, on a show discussing skincare for people of color. Dermatologist Dr. Lorna Thomas said, “That is the biggest myth in the world that people of color do not get skin cancer.” She used an elderly black man that had skin cancer on his head from her own practice as an example, debunking the NYT article’s claims that skin exposure and skin cancer were unrelated. Dr. Thomas explained that 1 in 5 Americans get skin cancer everyday which includes black Americans. 

Black People Need Sunscreen, Too.

To us the answer isn’t complicated, in fact, it’s quite simple. “There are more pros than nos,” said Shontay Lundy around the topic of sunscreen use for black women. The myths around sun protection for black people have been circulating for years, and it’s our mission to educate the black community on sunscreen with Black Girl Sunscreen. 

The biggest misconception around sunscreen for black people is that our melanin protects for sun damage. While this is true, it only partially protects from the harmful effects from the sun. This Huffington Post article supporting the use of sunscreen for black people explains that our melanin only protects from UV light up to SPF 13 with SPF 30 recommended for optimal protection. With Black Girl Sunscreen, you can nourish your skin with natural ingredients while protecting your melanin from aging and cancer with SPF 30. 

We love that the conversation of sunscreen for black people is being discussed by these news outlets and offering an opportunity to empower black women to protect their melanin always. 

This is our two sense on the topic of black skincare, what are your thoughts on the topic?