Should dark skinned people use sun screen when tanning?

Yes you should use sunscreen.

Yes, everyone needs to be careful in the sun.

Sunscreens are necessary for everyone who wants to avoid the sun’s negative effects. It doesn’t matter if you’re ghostly pale or super-dark skinned – the sun affects you in the same way, even if it’s not immediately visible.

Yeah but… I don’t think its that necessary…

If you don’t think it’s necessary, don’t do it. Just know you’re putting your skin’s health at risk.

You asked for an opinion; I gave you one.

Yes and get the highest SPF there is.. I have worked outside a lot of my life and have been burnt every year up to about 4 years ago. So I don’t know what I have done to myself yet. Use a hat with a brim to shade your face and neck. Skin cancer is serious stuff so why not at least try to avoid it?

I’m sure you can look this up on MedMD, but I’ve been told that everyone needs sunscreen. Dark people, as you just told us, burn, too. Any sunburn puts you at risk for skin cancer in the future. Do it. Put the sunscreen on. No more whining, either. ;-)

@Seelix Oh yeah yeah I understand. That you for your opinion.

@woodcutter Now that you mention skin cancer I will buy one immediately.

All tanning is a sign of skin damage.

So yes, use sunscreen.

No one is immune for the sun’s dangerous rays, no matter your skin color, race, religion or sex.

Yes. You can still get skin cancer.

One more question… can I still get cancer even though I use suscreen?

Believe it! dark skinned people can and do get sun burn and skin cancer…as well as sun wrinkles. Please, be careful.

I believe it’s possible to get skin cancer even using sunscreen, but the risk is much lower. If you’re planning to spend time in the sun, get a high SPF sunscreen. It’s not a bad idea to use moisturizer with sunscreen on an everyday basis, either.

Yes. There is a misconception that darker people don’t get skin cancer. They do.

@nailpolishfanatic Yes dear friend, you are not immune to getting skin cancer, although it is less common in dark-skinned people. Please use sunscreen. It will also help prevent wrinkling later in your young life.

@rebbel The Mayans worshiped the sun… And then they died without a trace.

A word of caution on high SPF- above 15 there is little additional protection. The important thing is frequent application.

And it is important to find a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection.

Yes, although it’s not as crucial as it would be for someone who’s fair-skinned. I wear shea butter in the summer; it has a natural SPF of about 6.

@nailpolishfanatic For years I wore a basic ball cap. The visor shielded my face, sort of, but did nothing for my ears and neck or shoulders. The brim hat was something to get used to but it really made a difference as far as protecting me. Plus I think they make you look awesome. Even in the winter the sun is there doing its damage so cover up all the time.
We use the “No Ad” brand of sunscreen. You get a big bottle for the price and it’s just as good as the name brands. The trick is you have to use it.

@Vortico You made me laugh XD

I have a naturally golden “tanned” complexion (see my avatar), but I still use a sunscreen when I’m outdoors in the summer sun. When I was in Florida last March, I used an SPF 15 sunscreen, and my face STILL got sunburned. So it goes to show you, even if you were born with a natural “tan” like I have, and use a weak sunscreen, you still run the risk of sun damage.

I have NEVER used sun screen, and I have NEVER BURNED in my life, no matter how hot, or how long I was out there in it. Maybe if you are blended with fairer skinned nationalities maybe, but my niece is half Irish and I never remember her burning either.

@Hypocrisy_Central Tanned is still causing damage over time. Although, I do believe in getting some natural vitamin D once in a while.

Interestingly, a friend of mine who is more medium skinned (she is half Asian and half African-American) posted on her Facebook page that she has a heck of a sunburn. So yes, people with darker skin can get burned.

There are a lot of myths which have been debunked regarding sunscreen and UVA and UVB.

For one, everyone should protect against melanoma – regardless of skin colour.

To keep out the harmful rays, spread a serious amount of at least SPF 15 to 30, but less than that or more than that isn’t recommended: the former for not being protective enogh, the latter for just being more expensive and not doing any more.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WATERPROOF.

After a couple of hours of swimming, or not, reapply. Because sweating also does the trick. Even with “waterproof” sunscreen.

Stay in the shade is the best advice. Besides, who needs a tan? And if you must be in direct sunlight (for sports or swimming in the sea, whatever) try to do it before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

Tip for women and metro’s (JK): it has been proven that all the anti-ageing creams are crap – forget about the Q this and anti-oxidant that – go with sunscreen. It has been proven that pretty much any moisturizer will work the same, which means not much, but sunscreen will definitely do wonders for your face – in saving it from what would happen much faster if you DO NOT apply it.

Use a cheap moisturizer, your Clarins works the same as your Nivea; then apply a good sunscreen – that will save your face from the ravages of time much better than a 300 dollar moisturizer.

FYI: The US has new guidelines for SPF. Right now you can get the old sunscreens cheap, they are on sale to clear inventory for the new labels I assume. Sunscreen now must have UVA along with UVB protection. Most sunscreens already did have UVA, but there was no regulation on how much, SPF only refers to the UVB protection. I have no ideaif there will be a rating system for the UVA raus. And, SPF will not be higher than 50 anymore.

Personally, I am extremely fair, I burn in less than 30 minutes without sunscreen, and if I just use SPF 8 I don’t get burned. If I use 15 I get basically nothing, still stark white at the end of my sun bathing.