Patients with skin of color have the risk for skin cancer, pigmentary disorders and photo-exacerbated disorders. Still, they find using sunscreens challenging as it leaves an obvious residue on their skin. Song et al, in their study, examined the sunscreen recommendations from the popular press and from practicing dermatologists for patients with colored skin.

They queried the Google search engine with the relevant terms and conducted an anonymous survey concerning sunscreen recommendations among dermatology trainees and board-certified dermatologists.

It found that sunscreens for patients with skin of color compared with sunscreens for white or fair skin were mostly chemical sunscreens (70% vs. 36%) and more expensive products, despite the lower sun protection factor level (median: 32.5 vs. 50). In their survey study, they also found dermatologists to be overall cost-conscious and felt that sun protection factor level, broad-spectrum (ultraviolet A/B protection), and price were the essential features of sunscreens for their patients and deemed cosmetic elegance as least important. Dermatologists overall educated patients with skin of color insufficiently on sunscreen use, and 42.9% reported that they either never, rarely or only sometimes take into consideration the patients skin type when making sunscreen recommendations.

These data represent the scope for growth within dermatology to improve culturally competent care by acknowledging sunscreen types and formulations that primarily consider patients with skin of color.

Source: Song H, Beckles A, Salian P, et al. Sunscreen recommendations for patients with skin of color in the popular press and in the dermatology clinic. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2021;7(2):165-70.