# Pigment and skin cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2000, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigment-and-skin-cancer/20491 "2000-05-25T04:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2000, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigment-and-skin-cancer/20491/1 "2000-05-25T04:14:21Z")
Has anyone strated a real link between having more skin pigment (black, “Middle Eastern” skin types) and having a lower rate of skin cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2000, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigment-and-skin-cancer/20491/2 "2000-05-25T05:07:56Z")
Yes. UV rays that are absorbed can damage the DNA within skin cells. melanin (pigment)is the natural sunscreen that your body produces to block the dangerous UV light. this is why you tan when exposed to a lot of UV light. dark-skinned people naturally have lots of melanin, and therefore block more UV light than light-skinned people. tada. a lower rate in skin cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2000, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigment-and-skin-cancer/20491/3 "2000-05-25T14:00:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Yes. > > UV rays that are absorbed can damage the DNA within skin cells. melanin (pigment)is the natural sunscreen that your body produces to block the dangerous UV light. this is why you tan when exposed to a lot of UV light. > > dark-skinned people naturally have lots of melanin, and therefore block more UV light than light-skinned people. tada. a lower rate in skin cancer. > \*\* Is it a complete myth that getting a “base tan” will afford a light-skinned person some protection in this regard?