MyBlack^® Health

Do African-Americans sunburn, and if so, how might it be possible to tell?

Source: Florida Times-Union

Question Do African-Americans sunburn, and if so, how might it be possible to tell? — Jeff S., 31, white, Bremerton, Wash. Replies LOL, yeah, black people do burn. My mom and I are very dark. She burned and didn’t know what was going on. She went through emergency, and they told her she was burned. When I burned, I didn’t panic. I just broke out the aloe. We both have to wear sunblock, though. — Duane, black, Washington, D.C. We can be albino and blue-black and all the colors in between. The fairer the skin, the more propensity to burn when out in the sun. … I’m medium brown and my father is two to three shades darker. If out in the sun too long, he burns. I’ve never gotten sunburned — but I do freckle! — Kim, black, Minneapolis Because I’m somewhat fair-skinned, I don’t tan well, I burn, and it looks just like when white people get sunburn: red and maybe blistery. The black people I know who are a good amount darker than I am tend to tan rather than burn. — Jessica, 28, black, Cincinnati

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