You can actually thank a particular woman (who shall remain anonymous) for inspiring me to write this article. I say that because, while she was talking to me about a romantic summer trip that she was about to take, and she was going down the list of what she needed to get, when I said, “Don’t forget sunscreen,” she looked at me like I was crazy and said, “Girl, we’re Black.”
Umm…AND?
If there is one summer-themed myth that I absolutely cannot wait to die, it’s the belief that, so long as you have a lot of melanin in your skin, sunscreen isn’t necessary. As you’re about to see below, not only is that lies, lies and more lies, it would actually be a wise move to purchase one brand for your body and another for your face.
If sunscreen, let alone two different kinds, doesn’t make a lot of sense to you, let me plead my case — for the sake of the ultimate health and well-being of your skin this summer season.
What Is Sunscreen All About? Really.
GiphyI can’t say that the origin story of sunscreen is something that I’ve always wondered about; however, while I was sitting down to pin this, my curiosity was a bit piqued. What I discovered is that during the mid-1940s, a Swiss chemist by the name of Franz Greiter came up with the first modern kind of sunscreen. A couple of years before that, a pharmacist by the name of Benjamin Green was out here mixing coconut oil and coconut butter together, and that ended up becoming the top ingredients for what we now know to be Coppertone Suntan Lotion. The more you know.
Anyway, the purpose of sunscreen is to create a barrier on your skin that helps to keep UV rays from damaging it — not just when it comes to avoiding sunburn but also skin cancer and premature aging. If you’ve ever wondered what the SPF is on the labels of sunscreens, what it stands for is Sun Protection Factor.
That said, if the label states that it’s a “broad spectrum” type of sunscreen, that means it can protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays (which is a good thing because both rays have the potential to cause skin cancer). If it says “SPF 30” (or higher), that means it’s the kind of sunscreen that the American Academy of Dermatology approves of.
Since sunscreen contains quite a few chemicals, you might be wondering if there are any that you should be leery of. Well, one that is a bit on the controversial side is oxybenzone, mostly because it is considered to bea hormone disruptor. Although research is still ongoing, many health experts say that it’s not an ingredient to be worried about overall.
There is also more data coming out that certain ingredients in sunscreen can actually be absorbed into your bloodstream, though (not to mention that CNN recently published a report that only one-quarter of commercial sunscreens work as well as they claim to). If the mere thought of that has you a bit stressed out, there are mineral alternatives that you can try. You can read about some of the pros and cons of those here.
As far as how to get the absolute most out of your sunscreen, you should apply it about 15 minutes before you plan on going out in the sun; you should cover your body from head to toe; you should be prepared to reapply it every two hours; you should keep in mind that sunscreen is not 100 percent waterproof (although the ones with the “water resistance” label tend to last for 40-60 minutes or so), and you should never forget that the shelf life for sunscreen is typically somewhere around three years.
Why Do Melanated People Need It?
GiphyAight, so now that the 411 on sunscreen has been shared, if, as a Black woman, you’re wondering if you need to apply sunscreen (especially on a consistent basis) — I hope that enough articles have been published at this point that you know the answer to that (even if you are low-key ignoring it): YES, YOU SHOULD. And yes, I am yelling it!
Although it is true that melanin does absorb a certain amount of UV rays and protects skin from sun damage, it’s not so good at it that we don’t need extra protection in the form of sunscreen.
Besides, it’s wise to always keep in mind that currently, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. Not only that, but sun damage can also come in the form of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and again, aging.
On the aging front, sunscreen contains ingredients that help to deeply moisturize your skin, so that the sun isn’t able to dry it out (which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles) and it can help to keep the sun’s rays from breaking down the collagen and elastin that your skin needs in order to stay youthful looking.
All of this isn’t something that only the less-melanated people should care about — we all should (check out “Yes, Black CAN Crack. Here's What To Do About It, Tho.”). That said, a brand worth checking out is Black Girl Sunscreen.
Here’s Why “One Screen Fits All” Should Be Tweaked a Bit
GiphyOkay, so now it’s time to get to the actual title of this piece — when it comes to applying sunscreen, should you use the same on your face that you use everywhere else? Great question. Although it might initially seem that it really doesn’t matter if you apply the same product on your face that you do on your body — think about (for instance) the lotion that you apply to your body’s skin. Do you slather the same brand on your face, or do you use a moisturizer on it that’s specifically made for your facial needs?
The same point applies to sunscreen because the reality is that the skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the skin that is on the rest of your body. Not only that, but the sunscreens that are customized for your face tend to absorb quicker, are less oily, they reduce the chances of clogging up your pores, and they oftentimes have less (of the same) chemicals in them too.
As a bonus, if you go with a mineral sunscreen that is made for your face, you don’t have to worry about it stinging your eyes like the “regular” sunscreens can.
With all of this said, I ain’t got no lies to tell you — facial sunscreens are a bit more expensive; however, if you can apply certain ones, knowing that, for starters, your chances of experiencing a breakout are significantly lower, that alone should make it worth the cost of the investment, right? I would think so.
BONUS: DIY Sunscreen Is Not Recommended
GiphyOkay and if after taking all of this in, you’ve not only committed to wearing sunscreen but buying a different type of one for your face yet you like to use all-natural alternatives as much as possible, and so a part of you is like, “Hell, I’ll just make my own”? Umm…yeah…let’s not do that.
Articles like TIME’s “Why You Really Shouldn’t Make Your Own Sunscreen” explain, quite clearly why, if there is one thing where you shouldn’t take the DIY route, it’s sunscreen. For one thing, you probably won’t get the ratio of ingredients that you need right in order to thoroughly protect your skin. Also, many of the recipes that you see online, the SPF of them end up being extremely low, not to mention the fact some could lead to skin irritation and/or allergic reactions.
So, instead of risking it with a homemade sunscreen, come up off of a couple of bucks. Your skin will be forever grateful. Quite literally.
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So yeah, this year, the next time you head out to pick up some sunscreen, make the concerted effort to get one that’s specifically made for your face, too. Anything that can help you to put your best face forward, even in the sun, don’t deny yourself, chile.
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These days, it's for a completely different purpose, though. Now that I am in the hopefully latter stages of perimenopause (I’m not sure because my mother had a full hysterectomy at 29, her mother died at 53 and I don’t deal with my paternal grandmother because…chile… ) — although I have always had relatively easy cycles and I could definitely set my watch to them, about two years ago, my periods started to show up whenever they felt like it and it was damn near a crime scene once they did.
It was driving me crazy, and so, my nurse practitioner recommended that I take progestin-only pills to shorten, if not completely stop, my cycle: “After a year or so, we can wean off and see if you are entering into menopause on your own.” (Whew, perimenopause, chile.)
Although the first five months of being on this particular pill made me wonder if it was worth it to take this approach, I actually re-upped for another 12-month cycle because the extra progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) has benefitted me in other areas as well because I am sleeping more soundly and my weight is more stabilized (by the way, when these things are “off,” they are signs of low progesterone levels). However, I did ask my nurse practitioner if, once I do decide to wean off of the pill, would there be any issues.
Her response is what inspired me to write this article because, until she said “post-birth control syndrome” to me, I had no idea there was such a thing. Anyway, if you give me a sec, I’ll explain to you what it is and why you should care if hormone-related birth control is currently a part of your life.
Yes, Post-Birth Control Syndrome Is a Very Real Thing
GiphyOkay, so it’s important to always remember that the way that birth control works is it “manipulates” your hormones so that you can significantly reduce your chances of conceiving. This means that taking them could result in some side effects including nausea; weight gain; headaches; irregular periods and/or spotting; increased stress; depression; blurry vision; breast tenderness, and/or a lowered libido.
That said, even though birth control pills are basically 99 percent effective (when taken correctly and consistently), if the side effects that you are experiencing are making you close to miserable, you should absolutely share that with your healthcare provider because…what’s the sense in preventing pregnancy when you don’t even feel up to having sex because you don’t feel good or your sex drive is shot? More times than not, your provider can find you another pill brand or option that will help you to feel more like yourself.
With that out of the way, think about it — if going on the pill can produce side effects, why would going off of it…not? And this is where post-birth control syndrome comes in.
For the most part, it’s what can happen to your body once you decide to come off of birth control. Typically, the symptoms will last anywhere between 4-6 months and, although the symptoms seem to present themselves most intensely as it relates to going off of the pill, any hormone-related birth control (like IUDs, injections, patches, the ring or implants) could produce similar outcomes.
Outcomes like what?
- Irregular cycles
- Breakouts
- Excessive gas and/or bloating
- Weight gain
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Fertility issues
- Migraines and/or headaches
- Shifts in your libido
- Sleeplessness/restlessness
- Hair loss
Whoa, right? And if a part of you is wondering, “Okay, if this is indeed the case, why have I not heard of this syndrome before?” It’s because it’s not a term that conventional method uses nearly as much as alternative medicine does. Still, it makes all of the sense in the world that if your body has to adjust to an uptick in hormonal intake, it would also need to adjust to removing those extra doses of hormones from your system as well. COMMON. DAMN. SENSE.
Anyway, if you were thinking about taking a break from birth control and taking all of this in has you feeling a bit…let’s go with the word “trepidatious” about doing so, I totally get it. There are some things that you can do to make experiencing post-birth control syndrome either a non-issue or a far more bearable one, though.
7 Home Remedies That Can Make Coping with Post-Birth Control Syndrome Easier
Giphy1. Take a multivitamin.Something that’s fascinating about what going off of birth control can do is it sometimes has the ability to lower your nutrition levels as it relates to certain vitamins and minerals; this is especially the case when it comes to vitamins B, C, E and minerals like magnesium, selenium and zinc. So, if you don’t currently take a multivitamin, now would be the time to start (along with consuming foods that are particularly high in those nutrients as well).
2. Up your vitamin D intake. Speaking of nutrient levels, a vitamin level that commonly drops after going off of birth control isvitamin D. This is hella critical to keep in mind as a Black woman since many of us tend to be naturally deficient in the vitamin as-is and vitamin D is important when it comes to fighting off diseases, regulating weight and keeping your moods stabilized (for starters). So, make sure that your multivitamin has vitamin D in it. Also make sure to consume vitamin D-enriched foods like fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms, yogurt and fortified orange juice.
3. Drink herbal teas. Since going off of birth control will cause your hormones to be all over the place for a season, consider drinking some herbal teas that will help to stabilize them. Black cohosh contains phytoestrogen properties, Chasteberry can help to level out your prolactin levels and green tea can help your hormones out by helping to balance out your insulin (which can sometimes directly affect them).
4. Keep some ibuprofen nearby. The headaches and migraines? Until those subside, you and ibuprofen are probably going to become really good friends; although I will add that ginger tea and inhaling essential oils like chamomile and lavender can help to ease migraine-related symptoms too.
5. Do some meditating. Waiting for your hormones to get back on track can be stressful as all get out. That said, something that can get your cortisol (stress hormone) levels to chill out is to meditate. If meditation is new for you, check out “7 Meditation Hacks (For People Who Can't Seem To Do It).”
6. Get massages. As if you needed an excuse to get a massage, right (check out “12 Different Massage Types. How To Know Which Is Right For You.”)? However, there is some evidence to back the fact that regular massages (somewhere around once a month) can help to lower your stress, boost your dopamine, increase blood flow and drain your lymphatic system so that you will have more energy.
7. Sleep/rest more. There is plenty of scientific research out here which says that sleep deprivation can throw your hormones out of whack — and since your hormones are already trying to stabilize themselves, you definitely need to get 6-8 hours of sleep and not feel the least bit guilty about taking naps sometimes too.
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Post-birth control syndrome may not be the most pleasant thing about getting off of birth control yet it is manageable. So, now that you know all about it, you can feel more confident about taking a birth control break (or getting off altogether) — without the surprises that can come with doing it. Give thanks.
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