• 3 Min Read

Does your skin tone affect the level of SPF you wear?

Who should wear sunscreen? In short, everyone! Yep, no matter your skin tone or type, SPF should be your daily BFF. Let’s find out why…

Ever heard the idea that people with deeper skin tones don't need to wear sun protection? Well, that’s a dangerous misconception – and we’re here to set the record straight. The truth is, we all need to be wearing an SPF every day of the year to protect our skin from sun damage. So, whether you're relaxing on a balmy beach in Cornwall, or clutching your coat and scarf for warmth on your morning commute – SPF should always be your most faithful skincare companion.

Melanin explained 

Melanin is found in the skin and is ultimately what gives each of us our own beautifully unique skin colour. The more melanin you have in your skin, the darker it is. The cells that produce this pigment are called melanocytes, and are located at the very bottom of the first layer of our epidermis. You can also find melanocytes in each of our hairs, eyes and even our brains. Although UV damage is less probable in skin with higher levels of melanin, the risk still exists. This can involve anything from very dry, rough or textured skin to fine lines, uneven skin tone, peeling or shedding. These side effects only scratch the surface of the potential long-term harm that omitting SPF from our daily routines could do to our skin.

What really happens when we tan

When our skin is exposed to the sun, it’s absorbing UV radiation. Because melanin protects our skin against this, our melanocytes start to produce more melanin to try and reduce this radiation, which in turn, makes our skin tone darker, and creates sunspots and freckles.

Sun damage and melanoma can affect us all

While melanoma (skin cancer) is not as common in darker skin, it’s by no means immune to it. UV rays damage everyone’s skin, so skipping your SPF protection can cause long-term, irreparable effects on the health and elasticity of the skin – it’s always best to opt for prevention before needing the cure.    

Match your sun care to your skin tone 

A lot of sun creams leave a chalky residue, which is more prominent on darker skin tones. Historically these kinds of products have been designed primarily for caucasian skin, wrongly omitting an entire demographic who still need SPF protection. However, Tropic’s gloriously translucent Great Barrier range is formulated with a diverse range of skin tones in mind. The sun lotions absorb easily, effortlessly and invisibly into the skin. This range is also water and sweat-resistant, which is ideal for hazy, hot days spent sprawling out by a pool, or equally glamorous hours pegging washing out in the garden. We should be lathering up for every occasion.

 

The bottom line

We all need to be wearing an SPF of at least 30 when we’re out in the sun, making sure we re-apply every 2 hours for ongoing protection. High levels of melanin in our skin don’t act as a complete shield, so SPF should be the hottest handbag hero, whatever your skin tone.

Click here to shop our range of broad-spectrum, skin-loving sun protection.

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