Do not let the “Black don’t crack” adage steer you in the wrong direction. While many African Americans seem to age more gracefully than their counterparts, Omni McCluney, a dermatology physician assistant and founder/CEO of Resilience Skin and Beauty, provides expert food for thought. McCluney offers general dermatology services, surgical procedures, cosmetic services and more. She created Resilience Skin and Beauty, a skincare line tailored for sensitive, medically affected skin, especially for people of color.
Prevent Sunburn
McCluney explains that melanin absorbs UV rays, thereby reducing the risk of DNA damage. However, African Americans are still susceptible to sunburned skin. Prolonged exposure to sunlight, especially during peak hours (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), can overwhelm melanin’s protection and cause burns.
Sunburns in darker skin tones may appear as skin tenderness, dryness, peeling, flaking, itchiness, tightness, and darkening of the skin, instead of visible redness.
“In severe cases, there may be blistering. This damage to melanin-rich skin can increase the risk of skin cancers if these conditions are repeated. Sun exposure can also cause hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, dark spots, and melasma, and it can even induce skin conditions like eczema and trigger lupus flare-ups and lupus skin disorders. UV damage also contributes to premature aging,” said McCluney.
Guard Against Skin Damage
McCluney suggests that parents should make sure their children wear sunscreen daily to protect their skin from the UV rays.
“It’s also important that parents limit their child’s exposure to the sun by allowing their children outside during dusk and dawn, limiting how long the child is in the sun during peak hours, wearing protective garments, and re-applying sunscreen every two hours,” she added.
Wearing large-brimmed hats during sunny or hot weather can help limit the exposure of UV rays from the sun for people of all ages.
“It can assist in protecting the face, neck, and upper shoulders. It’s not 100% effective, and sunscreen still needs to be applied, but it does add some layer of protection if a person plans on being in the sun for a long duration of time,” said McCluney.
How to Care for Sunburned Skin
Act if your skin gets sunburned. McCluney suggests taking these measures:
1. Soothe the skin. Apply cold compresses to the affected areas for 10-15 minutes.
2. It is preferable to take cool showers.
3. Use fragrance-free moisturizers immediately after bathing.
4. Let sunburned skin heal.
“Emollients like aloe vera gel, shea butter, and ceramide creams like Eucerin will help with the healing of the skin,” McCluney stated.
She further explained that once skin is healed, to further correct the pigmentation, Vitamin C creams may be used to brighten it. Daily use of SPF prevents additional skin damage.
Skin Cancer Risks
McCluney stated that African Americans are still at risk for skin cancers despite the amount of protection from the increased melanin.
“Acral lentiginous are the most common melanomas in the African-American communities. These hyper-pigmented lesions will appear mostly on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the nail bed. These lesions are not sun-related and occur in less visible areas, which often leads to late diagnosis causing higher mortality (death) rates,” McCluney mentioned.
Squamous cell carcinomas are also more common than basal cell carcinomas in African Americans.
“Because skin cancers in African Americans appear as dark patches, non-healing sores, or pigmented streaks in nails, which may be mistaken as benign conditions, the delayed diagnosis contributes to worse outcomes,” McCluney explained.
Additionally, SPF sunscreen helps to prevent non-melanoma lesions and photoaging, but it does not prevent acral lentiginous melanoma.
“Self-exams, especially of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, nails, and scarred areas, and yearly visits with a dermatologist for skin exams are essential for early detection,” McCluney stated.
Skincare Matters
McCluney informs that men have more active oil glands, which makes them more prone to acne and clogged pores.
“Shaving is a form of daily exfoliation and irritation that may cause ingrown hairs and hyperpigmentation, especially in men of color. Skin care routines for men will help reduce inflammation and support the skin barrier recovery,” McCluney stated.
Visit McCluney’s website https://www.resilienceskincare.com or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/resilienceskinandbeauty.