Dark Skin

Dark skin is a naturally occurring human skin colour rich in eumelanin pigments and having a darkcolour. People with very dark skin are often referred to as black, although this usage can be ambiguous in some countries where it is also used to specifically refer to different ethnic groups or populations. Humans with dark skin pigmentation have skin naturally rich in melanin (especially eumelanin), and have more melanosomes which provide a superior protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation. This helps the body to retain its folate reserves and protects against damage to the DNA.

Dark skin offers great protection against UVR because of its eumelanin contect, its superb UVR-absorbing capabilites of large melanosomes, and because eumelanin can be mobilized faster and brought to the surface of the skin from the deeps of the epidermis. Melanin is nature’s gift to people in tropical latitudes and desert regions, where ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the most intense. Melanin acts as a protective shield against sunburn, sun damage, skin cancer and even sun-related aging such as wrinkles. But there is a darker side to melanin. For example, the cells that produce melanin can become overactive and produce excess pigment. And melanin may rebel against the wrong products. In both cases, your skin can develop a discoloration that can stick around for months or years. To help preserve the smooth, rich tone of your dark skin, it helps to understand the challenges your skin faces.