# Is it possible for dark-skinned people to get sunburn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342 "2005-11-16T17:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/1 "2005-11-16T17:27:10Z")
I know melanin blocks UV rays but is there a point where the longer you spend out in the sun, the more likely the pigmented cell will be damaged? ---
**Author:** ![Car\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Car\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Car_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/2 "2005-11-16T17:36:59Z")
> [@BluePitbull](#): > > I know melanin blocks UV rays but is there a point where the longer you spend out in the sun, the more likely the pigmented cell will be damaged? I actually asked a melanin endowed friend of mine this the other day, and he says yes. But he says it takes alot longer, and when he does burn, it doesnt turn bright red like it would on the pigmentally challenged. Can anyone cofirm\deny? ---
**Author:** ![Car\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Car\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Car_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/3 "2005-11-16T17:36:42Z")
> [@BluePitbull](#): > > I know melanin blocks UV rays but is there a point where the longer you spend out in the sun, the more likely the pigmented cell will be damaged? I actually asked a melenin endowed friend of mine this the other day, and he says yes. But he says it takes alot longer, and when he does burn, it doesnt turn bright red like it would on the pigmentally challenged. Can anyone cofirm\deny? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/4 "2005-11-16T17:37:57Z")
Yes, dark-skinned people can get sunburned. Melanin protects the skin to a degree, but the protection isn’t absolute. I once asked a black person at a nudist resort why I never saw him outside until later in the day and he responded, “Because I sunburn easily.” I’m assuming he knew what he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/5 "2005-11-16T17:54:32Z")
> [@Car\_Guy](#): > > . . . when he does burn, it doesnt turn bright red like it would on the pigmentally challenged. Can anyone cofirm\deny? A friend of mine told me he turns slightly grayish when he gets too much sun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/6 "2005-11-16T17:58:12Z")
Certainly…and its still painful. Myself, I’m more brown skinned being of hispanic decent, and I don’t burn easily (unlike my blonde wife). Still, I do burn. And I have friends who are nearly blue black…and I know for a fact that they burn, as I’ve heard them complain about it after we were out fishing all day. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/7 "2005-11-17T21:10:28Z")
I’m fairly brown-skinned. I never burn on most of my body but I have gotten the occasional burn & peeling on my nose. Skin on my face is quite fair. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-dark-skinned-people-to-get-sunburn/331342/8 "2005-11-18T01:30:49Z")
The skin of dark-complected “blacks” gives the equivalent of SPF 4 - 6. That’s it. And SPF 4 - 6 doesn’t prevent sunburns. No link, just something I read a few years ago.