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| Saving Face: Skin Care for Black Men |
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If you think you don't have to worry about protecting yourself from the sun because you've got a little bit of melanin in your skin think again. In fact, not only do you need to start wearing sunscreen, you may need to change your skin care routine all together. Black men often have to deal with razor bumps and other inflammatory skin conditions that are brought on by same melanin that serves as a UV protectant from the sun.
Dr. Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University College of Physicians and
Surgeons and staff member at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, both in New York, says. "Although people of color have more natural protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation due to the increased amount of melanin in their skin, the cells that make melanin pigment tend to be more reactive to inflammation and injury, and therefore pigmentation problems are more common in skin of color," said Dr. Alexis. "These natural genetic factors, coupled with cultural differences in their skin and hair care practices, can result in differences in the appearance of common dermatologic conditions and the frequency in which they can occur."
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