You’ve probably heard that black skin doesn’t need sun protection or that it heals more easily. The problem is that these statements only spread untruths and end up further alienating the population on the subject. Therefore, Dr. André Moreira, dermatologist specialized in black skin, demystifies 5 myths about care (with scientific basis). Check out!
1. Black skin does not need sunscreen
“This is one of the worst! When we don’t use sunscreen correctly, in addition to increasing the risk of skin cancer (yes, black people can get skin cancer), we also increase the chance of developing diseases that lead to spots, such as melasma. Therefore, sunscreen it is fundamental!”
2. Black skin does not stain
“This is such a myth that it is actually the opposite. To the dark skins stain more easily than white skin, as the former are more likely to develop a situation known as post-inflammatory hyperchromia, which is nothing more than the appearance of a dark spot on skin that has suffered some trauma or inflammation such as acne (the dreaded pimples!). Therefore, a lot of care and affection when taking care of the skin.”
3. Black skin heals more easily
“There is no difference in the ease of healing between skins of different ethnicities, what we have from scientific evidence is that in darker skins, exaggerated scarring can occur, leading to unsightly scars known as keloids. Despite the predisposition to these scars, fortunately we have efficient treatments to alleviate them.”
4. Curly hair is more resistant
“Once again a statement that is contrary to reality. The way the structures that make up curly hair connect makes it more fragile, which makes curly hair more easily damaged. It is important to be careful when applying chemical agents (straighteners, dyes…) and physical agents (brushes, flat irons…) to curly hair, as there is a great risk of hair breakage.”
5. Black skin does not age
“I and all black people really would like this statement to be true, but it is not. What happens is that the aging of black people is different from white people. While the latter suffer more intensely from a process known as photoaging, with accentuation of wrinkles and lesions caused by the sun, the former have a marked loss of facial volume, gaining a ‘melted’ aspect of the face. It’s important to understand these differences in order to design a skin care plan that really meets everyone’s needs.”
There are certainly other myths, racist statements and false information that marginalize black people. But what we have to remember is: we all deserve care. Let’s take care of ourselves!
By Taís Lopes
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.