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Its a statement Ive lived by my whole life as a woman of color.
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For years, I believed my dark skin would guard me against aging.
But the older I get, the wiser I am about skincareI am a beauty editor, after all.
While my melanin surplus helps stave off wrinkles, it doesnt guard against skin cancer or hyperpigmentation.
If youve read any of my skin-care stories, you know Im a stickler when it comes tosunscreen.
Sunscreen has always been a beach essential in my family.
I explain to my patients of all ethnicities that we can all get photodamage.
We simply show it differently on our skin, says dermatologist Amy McMichael, M.D.
An uneven complexion is the outcome of sun exposure in darker patients.
The extra melanin does still have its advantages.
However its still important to wear sunscreen because skin cancer can still happen.
Knowing you should wear sunscreen and actually doing it are two different things.
Its hard to find a moisturizer with SPF 30+ that blends with darker skin.
Anything thats chalky or pasty can make sunscreen a pain to wear.
So in most cases dark skin shows wrinkles and age spots a lot later in life.
African-American skin also tends to have more oil, which protects against dryness and wrinkling.
But that doesn’t mean your skin couldn’t benefit from a little help.
Try using aretinolproduct likeDr.
Brandt Skincare 2% Retinol Complex Serum($69), which brightens and evens out skin tone.
My mom would often slap my hand if she saw me picking at my pimples.
Thats because darker skin is more prone to scarring and hyperpigmentation.
Many dermatologists recommend swift and stringent treatment courses foracne, rashes, andeczemaon brown skin tones.
Which brings me to my next point.
Desai says the gold standard in lightening agents is hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone is a prescription lightening ingredient that helps to block the enzyme that makes the melanin, he says.
Sun exposure can also darken any hyperpigmentation that is already visible.
This is also something to keep in mind when you considerlaser hair removal treatments.
These lasers target the melanin in hair.
You always want to see a certified practitioner who has worked on brown skin before.
Not all derms are equally familiar with the particularities of darker skin.
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