We want all POC to have access to the experts in the room: Our goal is to give you the confidence to know what’s real and what’s BS through in-depth skincare education.
What is melanin?
Melanin is the pigment that provides color to your skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin is created by cells called melanocytes, which are located within the outer layer of our skin. Fun Fact: Everyone’s body, regardless of race produces melanin — and the specific concentrations of it is what actually determines skin and hair color. Melanin also adds color to your eyes as well as areas of your brain and adrenal glands. However, when excess amounts of melanin is produced, skin conditions like hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) and melasma, arise.
What causes hyper-pigmentation or “dark spots”?
Melanin production is totally natural, however production can be kicked into overdrive by our melanocytes in direct response to UV rays (think when you get a tan or sunburn, or go out in the sun without sunscreen) and also trauma, like a cut/scrape or acne, which is called post-inflammatory-hyperpigmentation. To protect your body from sun exposure and skin damage melanocytes are stimulated to release excess melanin deposits that act as “protectors” and form dark spots on the top layer our skin in an effort to repair the skin and heal it.
Is there a way to prevent hyper-pigmentation?
Yes! The most important thing to remember is sun exposure can increase the darkness of any hyper-pigmentation you already have on your skin. This is why sunscreen is key! Using SPF daily is so important because prevents excess melanin production (hyper-pigmentation) signs of aging and skin cancer.
So, the most important thing to remember is:
Melanin’s purpose is to protect your skin from sun damage. The more sun exposure you have, the more melanin your skin creates.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best sunscreen is:
-
broad spectrum
-
SPF 30 or higher
-
water-resistant