Is it causing more harm than benefit? Finally, BiasSkin.com provides a tanscreen made specifically for POCs!

Let’s talk about sunscreen use for people of color (POCs). Do we (POCs) need them?? We see sunscreens everywhere and see advertisements for the necessity of daily sunscreen usage everywhere. However, nobody has seriously addressed sunscreen use for people of color. I know most of us are using them, but do we need them or are they harmful to us??

There has been so much research done on skin cancer because it is the most common cancer in the US but “data have been limited for non-white populations, making accurate determination of incidence and mortality difficult.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757062/. It is known however that the rate of skin cancer in POCs is significantly less than that of Caucasians. The three most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer and melanoma. Data has shown that squamous cell cancer and melanoma in people of color are NOT associated with exposure to sunlight in POCs. These cancers in POCs actually appear in areas that are not exposed to sunlight on a usual basis. Only BCC is possibly associated with sunlight exposure in POCs and again, skin cancer in general is low in POCs. It has been established that there is more morbidity and mortality associated with skin cancer in POCs than in the Caucasian population. This may be because of the delay in diagnosis so the cancer is more advanced at the time of diagnosis. So, it is always recommended that POCs get regular skin checks with their physicians. Also POC with lighter skin tones especially those who have a tendency to get sunburns should continue using sunscreens.

Now let’s talk about the risks associated with the ingredients in sunscreens. The most common ingredients in sunscreens have been shown to have adverse affects and are being reviewed by the FDA again to ensure safety. So why are we using chemicals that are likely harmful to us?? To see all the ingredients currently used in sunscreens and their potential for harm go to: https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/.

“Vitamin D insufficiency is more prevalent among African Americans (blacks) than other Americans and, in North America, most young, healthy blacks do not achieve optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations at any time of year. This is primarily due to the fact that pigmentation reduces vitamin D production in the skin.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16549493/. While sunscreens don’t normally cause Vitamin D deficiency, POCs are already starting out with low Vitamin D because of our skin’s inability to produce Vitamin D. Using sunscreens further exacerbates the problem, by reducing the exposure the much needed exposure to the sun for absorption of Vitamin D. While vitamin D deficiency is not related to osteoporotic fractures, “…it is becoming increasingly apparent that vitamin D protects against other chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers, all of which are as prevalent or

more prevalent among blacks than whites.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16549493/.

Now let’s talk about why we POCs use sunscreens. Advertisements bombard us, all of us, POCs or otherwise, prescribing daily sunscreen usage to avoid skin cancer. Or we use it is to avoid getting darker (a cosmetic effect of sun exposure). Here let me start off by saying that we should avoid shaming others or feeling guilt ourselves from not wanting to tan. Why is our reaction to not wanting a tan immediately shame/guilt?? Why do we feel that if we say we don’t want a tan, we will immediately be categorized as people who want to be white. I love my color (medium brown) and do not want a tan. Caucasians want tans because they would like a color that is somewhat darker than they are natuarally, and they feel no shame or guilt. We as POCs should also get away from this shame/guilt. We can try to be whatever color we find beautiful for us and feel no guilt or shame about it.

Now let’s talk about what our patent pending products do. Our products will prevent tanning and aging, but critically do not contain any of the ingredients that have been shown to be harmful. We have formulated a tanscreen, designed specifically for POCs. Our products also don’t have the undesirable sticky feeling or the white discoloration effect of most sunscreens. They feel like natural moisturizing lotions because that’s what they are composed of, with the added ingredient for protection from the sun the way we POCs need. Go to BiasSkin.com to try our tanscreen (NOT sunscreen), and see the results for yourselves, as we have in studies.