The skin care myth that harms people of color
July 19, 2019 •
Summer is here and that means it’s time to bust one of the biggest sun protection myths out there: that people with darker skin don’t need sunscreen.
In fact, skin cancer can strike anyone — and exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is a leading risk factor.
“There’s a common colloquial phrase, ‘black don’t crack’ — meaning your skin will always be good. You won’t get wrinkles and you don’t need sunscreen if you have melanin-rich skin,” says Dr. Jenna Lester, a board-certified dermatologist at UCSF.
But, Dr. Lester mission is to educate patients and the public that this myth is flat wrong. Read more from the University of California newsroom.
