Effects of Sun Exposure in Skin of Colour

Sunlight exposure causes different effects on skin of colour, as compared to lighter skin types. Apart from photocarcinogenesis, the risk of which is low in SOC, even conditions like photoaging and photopigmentation manifest very differently in melanocompetent individuals. Specific photosensitivity conditions like polymorphous light eruption (PLE) and pigmentary conditions like melasma are very common in SOC and remain challenging which needs to be addressed by an ideal sunscreen. Traditionally, protection from UVB has been the main focus of sunscreen development. However, for skin of colour and for the concerns of photoageing and photopigmentation, the domains of UVA, VL, and IR coverage become very important. Anyway, UVA has recently been established to play an important role in skin cancer. Therefore, sunscreens for SOC need to have a broad-spectrum protection, with a high critical wavelength, and preferably, include antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals.