Do Black People Need Sunscreen? What Does The Research Say?

I have heard people, including children, say that Black people do not need sunscreen. What I usually hear next is that because we have melanin, our skin is already protected from the sun. There is some truth in this, but it is not the complete story. So, let’s break it down.

The active compounds in sunscreen products are intended to protect the skin against specific components of sunlight, particularly ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation. UVB is primarily associated with sunburn, while UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin and contributes to photoaging, pigmentation changes and cellular damage. Both UVA and UVB can contribute to the DNA damage associated with skin cancer.

Sunscreen filters protect the skin by absorbing ultraviolet radiation, scattering or reflecting a portion of it. The SPF reported on a sunscreen mainly measures protection against sunburn, which is caused predominantly by UVB. This is why it is also important to look for the words “broad spectrum,” indicating that the product provides protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Black skin does have more natural protection because of its higher melanin content. Melanin absorbs and disperses some ultraviolet radiation before it reaches vulnerable skin cells. In a classic study comparing Black and White skin, researchers found that approximately five times more UVA and UVB radiation reached the upper dermis of White skin than Black skin. Another study using simulated sunlight found considerably less UV-induced DNA damage and inflammation in Black skin than in White skin. However, the researchers did not find that Black skin was completely protected.

Do Sunscreen Ingredients Work Differently According to Race?

In my search, I wanted to know whether individual sunscreen filters such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone and octocrylene have different levels of effectiveness in Black skin compared with White skin.

The literature is surprisingly scarce. I did not find strong head-to-head clinical trials demonstrating that a particular approved sunscreen filter stops working, or works substantially better, simply because the person using it is Black.

What is differeent is the skin’s baseline level of natural protection and its visible response to UV exposure. Sunburn and redness may appear more quickly or be easier to recognize in lighter skin, while persistent pigmentation may be a more noticeable concern in darker skin.

I also did not find clinical studies establishing that Black people should use a lower SPF because melanin already provides some protection. We cannot simply add the theoretical protection from melanin to the SPF of a product or conclude that SPF 15 on Black skin automatically behaves like SPF 30 or SPF 50 on lighter skin. There is no validated clinical formula for doing that. For now, the most reasonable approach is to select a broad-spectrum sunscreen rather than choosing a product based only on its SPF number.

So, Do Black People Need Sunscreen?

The evidence says that melanin gives Black skin meaningful natural protection, but that protection is not complete. Black people can experience sunburn, UV-induced cellular damage, photoaging and worsening of hyperpigmentation.

For regular or prolonged sun exposure, choose:

• A broad-spectrum sunscreen
• SPF 30 or higher as a practical level of protection when there is prolonged activity outdoors

Melanin is protective. It is simply not a complete sunscreen.

References

1. Kaidbey KH, Agin PP, Sayre RM, Kligman AM. Photoprotection by melanin—a comparison of Black and Caucasian skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1979. PMID: 512075.
2. Rijken F, et al. Responses of Black and White skin to solar-simulating radiation. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2004. PMID: 15175036.
3. Fajuyigbe D, et al. Sun exposure and Black skin. Dermatology. 2021. PMID: 34698032.
4. Onamusi TA, Sharma TR, Carroll BT. Understanding the perception of sunscreen utility in African Americans. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2024. PMID: 38795157.
5. Holman DM, et al. Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behavioral characteristics with sunburn among US adults. JAMA Dermatology. 2018. PMID: 29541756.
6. Castanedo-Cazares JP, et al. Near-visible light and UV photoprotection in the treatment of melasma: a double-blind randomized trial. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 2014. PMID: 24313385.
7. Dumbuya H, et al. Impact of iron-oxide-containing formulations against visible-light-induced skin pigmentation in skin-of-color individuals. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020. PMID: 32726103.
8. Lopes FCPS, et al. UV exposure and the risk of cutaneous melanoma in skin of color: a systematic review. JAMA Dermatology. 2021. PMID: 33325988.
9. Zhou C, et al. Guide to tinted sunscreens in skin of color. International Journal of Dermatology. 2024. PMID: 38073075.
10. US Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun.