Do I need to wear sunscreen?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been having an on-going argument with my wife over the past few months over whether or not it’s necessary for me to wear sunscreen.

I’m a black man with average brown skin (about Kobe Bryant’s complexion). I’m in my 30s, and I’ve never worn sunscreen in my life. I’ve never been sunburned in my life. When I was younger, I spent many summers in Mississippi and Florida, out in the sun all day, yet I never burned.

I always figured the natural melanin in my skin was enough to protect me, but my wife disagrees. She says the sun is stronger now than it was then (though I doubt the sun in NY now is stronger than the sun in FL and MS 15 years ago).

What do you guys think?

2

[QUOTE=Journal of Drugs in Dermatology]
Although there is some inherent protection in African-Americans and other darkly pigmented persons, the cumulative effects of ultraviolet radiation with the risks of developing skin carcinomas are the same in all skin phenotypes. This fact … warrants increased awareness and use of sunscreens among African-Americans.
[/QUOTE]

Full article here.

It sounds like sunscreen is less important for you than it would be for a paler person, but still a reasonable precaution.

3

Just make her aply it to you. Win-Win.