Do i need to cover up from the sun if my skin is already dark?

Huh? Waaaaaaaaaaaay more details please.

My friends are so concious with their skin like they use lotion and bring umbrella all the time while i don't. They say all girls do it to protect their skin from the sun and keep it white. I have dark skin and i don't worry about it. They continue to tell me that i should care more about my skin.

spherical - 10 August 2008 10:18 PM

Huh? Waaaaaaaaaaaay more details please. :sorry:

My mom thinks i should bring umbrella when I go out. I find it old fashioned and it's just an extra baggage. She thinks i should cover up or i will get fever. So far, i don't get sick.

Given the epidemic of skin cancer in this country, sun safety should now be an important part of our lives. Strategies should be used daily by people of all color and ages. Clothing,hats, glasses, sunscreens and umbrellas will help you protect from ultraviolet radiation. Most Americans are unaware that skin cancer is being diagnosed in epidemic numbers. Awareness is a must. If you are not comfortable using umbrella try these instead:

Avoid unprotected exposure during peak UV hours 10am to 4pm
Wear sun protection clothing and if possible stay out of direct sunlight
Apply sunscreen before going outdoor

Just an FYI, I looked it up on a cancer awareness site, and it said that Melanoma is diagnosed more often in whites than in blacks, but that blacks are morel likely to die from it. African-Americans have a 45% survival rate at the five-year mark, and it's 69% in whites. I'm not sure what your ethnicity is, but I think this means that you should whip out the umbrella!

All your reply are eye opener, thank you so much for sharing. I may not feel the side effects of sun exposure without protection now but i also should not wait that to happen instead i should start caring for my health. My mom is right all along,no wonder mom knows best.

Here's the quickest answer: Covering from the sun (and using sunblock) doesn't imply that you avoid your skin from being darker. You cover from the sun to avoid excessive exposure and negative effects of UV rays - skin cancer being the major one. OK?

Everybody needs to coverup from the sun, irrespective of skin cover. So I guess you're right in agreeing with yer Mom