*You’ve seen it in your family. You’ve seen it in celebrities like Pharrell Williams, Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba. You’ve seen it in that one photo on Twitter of the mother with her two daughters all looking the same age.
It’s quite evident that there is some truth to the quotable “Black Don’t Crack” adage. How about we take a scientific look at this? What’s the science behind us black folks doing so well in the aging department? How can we do better?
The truth is we are melanin kings and queens. Melanin, for those not in the know, is a naturally occurring pigment in the skin that acts like sunscreen.
Damage to the skin caused by the harmful rays of the sun is the main reason why signs of aging occur. The kind of melanin found in Black folks is called eumelanin; the more we have of it, the more UV protection we get.
Because of melanin, our bodies naturally get UV protection that is approximately equivalent to 13% SPF. This kind of protection from sun damage also extends to the eyes, since melanin is also responsible for eye color. If you have black or brown eyes, you get better eye protection from the sun’s rays than those with blue, green or hazel eyes.
Another scientific reason for our amazing and flawless skin is collagen. You must have heard of collagen as that thing that rich women get injected into their face to get rid of wrinkles. Well, we have plenty of it in our skins already. It is the most abundant protein in the human body and gives the skin its strength and elasticity. So, what’s so special about collagen in Black skin? Well, our skin’s collagen is the type that’s better at preventing sun damage. The sun protection made possible by the collagen and melanin in our skin not only prevents aging but also skin cancer. We’re truly blessed, fam!
Well now, this is getting interesting, isn’t it? Check out the rest of the story and see the highly entertaining “Black Don’t Crack” video/game at EURthisNthat.com.
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