Sunscreen Myths—Busted

BlueSerenity · BlueSerenity

Myth: Dark skin doesn't burn, so you don't need sunscreen.

Reality: "All complexions can burn," says Karyn Grossman, M.D., a dermatologist in Santa Monica and New York City. "A dark-skinned African-American doesn't need as high an SPF as a pale redhead, since she has more melanin in her skin for natural protection." Still, that extra melanin doesn't guard against the UV damage that accelerates aging or causes cancer. If you have dark skin, you need a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Myth: The sun gives you great highlights.

Reality: "Sun exposure damages your hair too," says Katie Rodan, M.D., of Stanford University. In fact, those highlights are evidence of damage that can give your hair a dry, strawlike texture and cause breakage. Keep your hair healthy by using UV-shielding products.

Myth: Getting a tan zaps zits.

Reality: A tan can temporarily camouflage the redness of a pimple and dry out the skin's surface, but sun exposure will eventually lead to more breakouts. "It causes a buildup of dead skin cells that clogs pores," Rodan says. "This actually worsens acne." The sun also dehydrates the skin; when that happens, your oil glands try to compensate by pumping out more oil, which may leave you with more zits.

Myth: There's no benefit to an SPF higher than 30.

Reality: A higher number is slightly better. "You get 99 percent sunburn protection with SPF 90, versus 96 percent with SPF 30," says Howard Sobel, M.D., of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Over a lifetime, a few more percentage points of protection can add up to a lot less sun damage.

Mz K · Mz K

i've never used any sun protection cream nor do i stay out so long either

BlueSerenity · BlueSerenity

hmmm on regular days i use stuff with sp15-30...but when i travel to latinamerica or the caribbean or anywhere near a beach lol i use sp85 but i still get badly burned bc i always over do it and stayout in the sun alllll day if i can....then i cry at night bc my skin hurt so bad..

Mz K · Mz K

that never happened to me yet...

BlueSerenity · BlueSerenity

lol..msk i love the sun....and i love the beach...so i just prepare myself to be burned crisp whenever i go on vac...happens every year and every year i say ill take it easy and not spend all day out in it...then i end up having to put all kind stuff on bc i get so badly burned my skin is red and so painful that just laying in bed is an issue...hmmm im going on vac soon and this i truly hope ill do better..lol

Mz K · Mz K

lol i do think our skin complection helps.......

liltsangie · liltsangie

i dont think i need sun sceen i have lived in places that reached 48 degrees

MrCee · MrCee

Originally Posted by liltsangie

i dont think i need sun sceen i have lived in places that reached 48 degrees

48 degrees F

StrawBerry · StrawBerry

Originally Posted by MrCee

48 degrees F

I think he meant 48 degrees C coz 48 degrees F is nothing.

MrCee · MrCee

Originally Posted by StrawBerry

I think he meant 48 degrees C coz 48 degrees F is nothing.

you think so

you're so smart

StrawBerry · StrawBerry

Originally Posted by MrCee

you think so

you're so smart

So smart?

StrawBerry · StrawBerry

Hold on, Mrcee u were being sarcastic didn't u?

MrCee · MrCee

Originally Posted by StrawBerry

Hold on, Mrcee u were being sarcastic didn't u?

you are smart.....u don' think so?

gifted chick · gifted chick

48C is murder

anyway... ive never been burned... nor do i use sunscreen... only thing that ive noticed is i get lighter in winter and darker in summer... but i guess thats normal

Caribbean Royalty · Caribbean Royalty

People always look at me weird when I get sun screen. Despite how low the factor is. It's really annoying.

I tan very easily which is cool just as long as my skin alright.

Does anyone know the reason why eyes can appear slightly lighter in the summer?

BlueSerenity	post #1 07-01-2009, 10:16 AM
Lyrical Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Dhaz Posts: 18,953 Dhaz Dollarz: 1,620,853,311.39 Gifts: 64	Sunscreen Myths—Busted Myth: Dark skin doesn't burn, so you don't need sunscreen. Reality: "All complexions can burn," says Karyn Grossman, M.D., a dermatologist in Santa Monica and New York City. "A dark-skinned African-American doesn't need as high an SPF as a pale redhead, since she has more melanin in her skin for natural protection." Still, that extra melanin doesn't guard against the UV damage that accelerates aging or causes cancer. If you have dark skin, you need a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Myth: The sun gives you great highlights. Reality: "Sun exposure damages your hair too," says Katie Rodan, M.D., of Stanford University. In fact, those highlights are evidence of damage that can give your hair a dry, strawlike texture and cause breakage. Keep your hair healthy by using UV-shielding products. Myth: Getting a tan zaps zits. Reality: A tan can temporarily camouflage the redness of a pimple and dry out the skin's surface, but sun exposure will eventually lead to more breakouts. "It causes a buildup of dead skin cells that clogs pores," Rodan says. "This actually worsens acne." The sun also dehydrates the skin; when that happens, your oil glands try to compensate by pumping out more oil, which may leave you with more zits. Myth: There's no benefit to an SPF higher than 30. Reality: A higher number is slightly better. "You get 99 percent sunburn protection with SPF 90, versus 96 percent with SPF 30," says Howard Sobel, M.D., of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Over a lifetime, a few more percentage points of protection can add up to a lot less sun damage.

MrCee	post #8 07-02-2009, 04:47 PM
Dhaz Supreme Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ny Posts: 7,882 Dhaz Dollarz: 15,978,809.00 Gifts: 49	Originally Posted by liltsangie i dont think i need sun sceen i have lived in places that reached 48 degrees 48 degrees F

StrawBerry	post #9 07-02-2009, 09:59 PM
Dhaz Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London Town Posts: 18,966 Dhaz Dollarz: 30,982,929.60 Gifts: 45	Originally Posted by MrCee 48 degrees F I think he meant 48 degrees C coz 48 degrees F is nothing.

MrCee	post #10 07-02-2009, 10:22 PM
Dhaz Supreme Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ny Posts: 7,882 Dhaz Dollarz: 15,978,809.00 Gifts: 49	Originally Posted by StrawBerry I think he meant 48 degrees C coz 48 degrees F is nothing. you think so you're so smart

StrawBerry	post #11 07-02-2009, 10:33 PM
Dhaz Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London Town Posts: 18,966 Dhaz Dollarz: 30,982,929.60 Gifts: 45	Originally Posted by MrCee you think so you're so smart So smart?

Mz K	post #2 07-01-2009, 04:32 PM
Dark Phoenix Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Can/usa Posts: 40,082 Dhaz Dollarz: 145,725.89 Gifts: 39	i've never used any sun protection cream nor do i stay out so long either

BlueSerenity	post #3 07-02-2009, 10:37 AM
Lyrical Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Dhaz Posts: 18,953 Dhaz Dollarz: 1,620,853,311.39 Gifts: 64	hmmm on regular days i use stuff with sp15-30...but when i travel to latinamerica or the caribbean or anywhere near a beach lol i use sp85 but i still get badly burned bc i always over do it and stayout in the sun alllll day if i can....then i cry at night bc my skin hurt so bad..

Mz K	post #4 07-02-2009, 11:08 AM
Dark Phoenix Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Can/usa Posts: 40,082 Dhaz Dollarz: 145,725.89 Gifts: 39	that never happened to me yet...

BlueSerenity	post #5 07-02-2009, 01:36 PM
Lyrical Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Dhaz Posts: 18,953 Dhaz Dollarz: 1,620,853,311.39 Gifts: 64	lol..msk i love the sun....and i love the beach...so i just prepare myself to be burned crisp whenever i go on vac...happens every year and every year i say ill take it easy and not spend all day out in it...then i end up having to put all kind stuff on bc i get so badly burned my skin is red and so painful that just laying in bed is an issue...hmmm im going on vac soon and this i truly hope ill do better..lol

Mz K	post #6 07-02-2009, 01:39 PM
Dark Phoenix Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Can/usa Posts: 40,082 Dhaz Dollarz: 145,725.89 Gifts: 39	lol i do think our skin complection helps.......

liltsangie	post #7 07-02-2009, 01:42 PM
Dhaz Immigrant Join Date: May 2007 Location: world wide web Posts: 1,426 Dhaz Dollarz: 238,439.05 Gifts: 13	i dont think i need sun sceen i have lived in places that reached 48 degrees

StrawBerry	post #12 07-02-2009, 10:44 PM
Dhaz Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London Town Posts: 18,966 Dhaz Dollarz: 30,982,929.60 Gifts: 45	Hold on, Mrcee u were being sarcastic didn't u?

MrCee	post #13 07-02-2009, 11:21 PM
Dhaz Supreme Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ny Posts: 7,882 Dhaz Dollarz: 15,978,809.00 Gifts: 49	Originally Posted by StrawBerry Hold on, Mrcee u were being sarcastic didn't u? you are smart.....u don' think so?

gifted chick	post #14 07-02-2009, 11:25 PM
Administrators Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: t dot Posts: 21,133 Dhaz Dollarz: 136,994,406.05 Gifts: 44	48C is murder anyway... ive never been burned... nor do i use sunscreen... only thing that ive noticed is i get lighter in winter and darker in summer... but i guess thats normal

Caribbean Royalty	post #15 07-03-2009, 11:34 AM
Dhaz Immigrant Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South of England Posts: 1,771 Dhaz Dollarz: 2,427.59 Gifts: 17	People always look at me weird when I get sun screen. Despite how low the factor is. It's really annoying. I tan very easily which is cool just as long as my skin alright. Does anyone know the reason why eyes can appear slightly lighter in the summer?

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