eli5: Do people with darker skin have to wear sunscreen?

Question

I heard the UV cause skin cancer, I’m a brown guy and never wear sunscreen, does that mean I have a higher likelihood of getting skin cancer?

In: 159

Answer 1

Yes you do. You’re more resistant to sunburn and skin cancer thanks to higher amounts of melanin, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune to it, especially in the summer. Some UV radiation will always penetrate your cells, and that will damage your DNA and cause cancer. Your body is always fighting off cancer cells that randomly appear out of nowhere. Don’t overwhelm your defenses by adding more.