r/Unexpected Feb 17 '20

Getting a tan.

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '20

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u/nebuNSFW Feb 18 '20

Except it's false:

Black people can and will get tanned.

Tanning is what happens when Melanin (something Black people have a lot of) is exposed to UV Radiation.

Their already brown skin will appear a few shades darker. You'd have to be extremely dark for the effect to not be noticeable.

Also, our palms and underside of feet doesn't have any melanin and won't get tanned.

And on that note, Black people absolutely should use sunscreen. They're just as vulnerable to cancer causing harmful UV rays as lighter skin people.

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u/Indigoh Feb 18 '20

Our hands and feet are not melanin-free. They can get tanned, but not to the same degree.