Let’s talk about SPF myths for dark skin. Specifically, we need to talk about all the reasons people in Lagos are still not wearing sunscreen daily, because most of those reasons are myths, and they’re doing real damage in the meantime.
“Dark skin doesn’t need SPF”
The most persistent and most harmful myth on this list. Melanin does offer some natural protection against sunburn but it does not protect against UV-induced damage, hyperpigmentation or skin cancer. Deeper skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), meaning UV exposure can contribute to dark spots and uneven skin tone over time, even without visible sunburn. That’s why sunscreen matters for every skin tone including dark skin.
“It’s cloudy today so I don’t need it”
UV rays penetrate cloud cover. Up to 80% of UV radiation reaches your skin on an overcast day. Lagos cloud cover during rainy season is not sun protection, it’s weather. Your SPF routine doesn’t change because the sky is grey.
“I stay indoors most of the day”
UVA rays, the ones responsible for ageing and hyperpigmentation, penetrate glass. If you’re sitting near a window, in a car or anywhere light reaches you, you’re getting UV exposure. Indoor SPF is not excessive. It’s just accurate.
“Sunscreen leaves a white cast on my skin”
This was a legitimate complaint for a long time. But formulations have genuinely improved. Black Girl Sunscreen and CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, which we carry at @Glam O’Sphere BoutiQue, were formulated specifically to absorb cleanly on deeper skin tones with no white cast whatsoever. The excuse no longer holds.
“I’ll start wearing SPF when I’m older”
UV damage is cumulative. The sun protection you skip in your twenties can show up as dark spots, uneven skin tone and other signs of sun damage in your thirties and forties. The best time to start wearing SPF daily was years ago. The second best time is today.
There are no circumstances under which daily SPF doesn’t apply to you. Not your skin tone, not the weather, not your lifestyle. SPF every morning, last step, non-negotiable.
Hugs and Kisses,
Msglam
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