http://collegecandy.com/2008/06/08/sunburn-a-cautionary-tale/ Advice on student style, collegiate dating discussion guides, relationship advice and women's studies. Sat, 26 May 2012 16:18:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://collegecandy.com/2008/06/08/sunburn-a-cautionary-tale/#comment-50016 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:22:27 +0000 http://www.collegecandy.com/reality/9505#comment-50016 I’m black and grew up on the south side of Chicago. As a child I played from morning to night with my friends and siblings all summer long. I have NEVER needed sunscreen nor have I or anyone in my family ever had a sunburn. My children who are now college students have NEVER had a sunburn. We are the lightest to the darkest shades of brown. Bottom line melanin is our natural sun screen. The more we’re exposed to intense sunlight the darker our skin becomes. It’s like going from SPF 20 to SPF 50. When the intensity of sun exposure decreases the skin lightens a few shades. As an RN for nearly two decades none of our patients admitted for skin cancer were black/african. Blacks can stay out in the sun as long as we want our skin darkens to protect us, it doesn’t burn or peel. Those who are bi-racial and/or very light, i.e. lacking melanin may very well burn when exposed for prolong periods of time.

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