April 29, 2025
Black and Hispanic participants in a 2018 study said they believed their skin cancer risk was low because of their darker skin tones and because skin cancer did not run in their families.
While melanin—the naturally produced pigment responsible for the color of our skin, hair and eyes—does offer some protection from the sun’s ultraviolet light, it’s not much, says Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, Interim Academic Chair of Dermatology at the Drexel University College of Medicine.
“We believe that our skin tone has an SPF of between two and four,” she says. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, a measure of how well sunscreen protects skin from ultraviolet (UV) B rays, the main cause of sunburn. “An SPF of two cuts your UVB exposure by about 50 percent, which is not a lot.”
This is important to know because UVA rays are the other type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun, and melanin and many sunscreens do not provide much protection from them. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and cause more long-term damage like wrinkles and other signs of early skin aging.
Both types of UV rays can trigger cellular changes that cause skin cancer.
Dr. Ilyas says family history can influence a person’s skin cancer risk, but because it was largely undiagnosed—especially among minorities—until the last 25 years, it can be difficult for anyone to know just how common skin cancer is in their family.
Sunscreen can help prevent sun damage and skin cancer, but it’s important to choose wisely.
“Sunscreen is not a medical product,” Dr. Ilyas says. “I think we put a lot of faith in it because our doctors recommend it, but in reality, it’s made by the cosmetic industry.”
Likewise, “broad spectrum,” a term on sunscreen labels that means the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays, is not regulated.
Drexel researchers recently reviewed more than 400 different kinds of sunscreen. “Broad spectrum” appeared on the label of “every single one,” Dr. Ilyas says.
There are two types of sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them into heat, while mineral sunscreens use minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to deflect UV rays. Dr. Ilyas says mineral sunscreens are the more reliable form of protection. Many now come in various tints, are lighter weight, and blend into the skin better than their predecessors did, she adds.
No amount of sunscreen is foolproof, which is why you should have a dermatologist check your skin from scalp to toe once a year. Meanwhile, get into the habit of doing it yourself, or with the help of a trusted partner, monthly.
Dr. Ilyas recommends taking photos to help you notice any changes, such as growing or darkening moles or blemishes that won’t heal and saving them to a dedicated album on your phone so they’re easier to reference or look back on.
If something does catch your eye, see a dermatologist because skin cancer is almost always curable when it’s detected and treated early.