"When I was a little girl, you couldn’t pull me away from the public pool that was around the corner from my house growing up. Every day that my mom would allow me to, I would ask for $5 and a little extra for snacks (AKA nachos with extra cheese sauce), throw on my swimsuit, and ask my older sister to drop me off at the pool. Usually I did not come back until 5 p.m.
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Back then, being outside and in the water as much as possible was the only thing I wanted to do, and I didn’t even care if any of my friends were going to be there. If they decided not to come that day, I would chat with maybe some new people, or bob around the pool by myself. Fun in the sun was the name of my summertime game.
As a kid, I’m not sure I knew much about skin protection from the sun, and even to this day, I’ve never been sunburned despite walking around Costa Rica in the sun or being at the swim-up bar for four days in Cancun. But now, as an adult, I care (and know) a lot more about taking care of my skin—and it is a big misconception that Black people don’t need to use sunscreen.
Source: @shivlareina via #sharetheeverymom
Melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color, is higher in Black people hence the darker skin tones. Melanin is often believed, as The New York Times put it, “to delay the visible signs of aging.” Overexposure to the sun is one of the key ways to age and damage skin quicker than normal, and while Black people may not show aging as quickly or as easily as other skin tones, it is still important to take care of Black skin from a young age. Skin cancer definitely doesn’t avoid Black skin just because of the skin tone.
So, to put it plainly, whether Black people are at a higher or lower risk to get skin cancer due to their skin doesn’t matter as much as it does to take preventative measures to lower the risk overall.
This being said, we need to take care of our children and make sure we’re practicing sun safety from a young age, regardless of skin tone. The same recommendations in place for white or non-Black children apply to Black children:
- Use a hat to protect their scalp
- Use a kid safe sunscreen of SPF 50 or higher
- Take breaks in the shade
If you’re looking for some kid-friendly sunscreens, check out a few options below!
This reef safe face and body sunscreen is made for kids of color. It soothes, moisturizes, protects, hydrates, and heals skin and doesn't leave a sticky white residue.
Plus, it's available at Target!
Water-resistant for 80 minutes, this mineral sunscreen was made for fun in the sun.
Meant for kids 6 months and up (under 6 months consult your pediatrician).
Aveeno is a trusted brand and conveniently located in most large grocery stores and drugstores. And, its a mineral block at an affordable price, making it a great option to send to daycare and school with the kids and keep in your handbag for impromptu trips to the park.
Perfect to have on hand all summer long for the kiddos, PLAY Everyday Sunscreen Lotion is clean and cruelty-free. It is a chemical sunscreen, so best for kids (and grown-ups).
For babies and toddlers, shop Supergoop! Sunny Screen mineral sunscreen here.
Hello Bello's baby sunscreen formula is reef-friendly and water resistant for 80 minutes. Plus it's available at Walmart nationwide, so it's easy to add to your cart when you're already shopping.
This sunscreen is easy to apply without leaving a white cast on the skin and it's reef-friendly. Plus, even though it’s labeled baby sunscreen, it can be used on the whole family.
Note it is not water resistant, so best for every day summer use when swimming isn't part of your day's plans.
This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for timeliness.
