What does all that SPF talk really mean?

With all of the sunscreen options out there, it's important to understand label terminology. Summertime can be particularly dangerous for the skin, especially for African American skin, as the National Cancer Institute reports that African Americans have higher instances of skin cancer death due to undiagnosed melanomas.

Experts at The Mayo Clinic offered their guidance on how to select a sunscreen that is safe and effective. Most importantly, they explained what SPF means, and if having a high SPF makes a difference regarding how well the sunscreen works, the most common question people have regarding suntan lotion.

SPF stands for "sun protection factor" and it can be very tricky to determine how accurate a lotion's SPF number is. According to dermatologist Lawrence Gibson, M.D., a higher SPF may not necessarily mean better protection.

"Many dermatologists recommend using a product with an SPF of 30 or more. However, no one really agrees on a 'good' SPF number. A sunscreen with an SPF of 60 might be better than one with an SPF of 30, but not necessarily," says Gibson on the Mayo Clinic Website.

African American women looking to protect their skin should consider skin care products for black women with added SPF. 

Introducing the beautiful and talented Ezperanza Spalding

African American musician Ezperanza Spalding shocked the country at the Grammy awards earlier this year by winning "best new artist" over the much-touted Justin Beiber.

The Prague Post recently ran a profile on the jazz singer, portraying her as a talented and bright young woman who is bringing influences from chamber music and old school jazz to modern music.

Spalding's talent was recognized at an early age, and at 20 she was named the youngest ever professor at the Berklee College of Music. On her student profile from 2004, executive vice president Gary Burton praised her unique abilities.

"She has a great time feel, she can confidently read the most complicated compositions, and she communicates her upbeat personality in everything she plays," he says. "She is definitely headed for a great career, and it will be soon."

Along with her talent, Spalding has also been pointed out for her unique beauty and style. While everyone might not be able to have her musical ability, any ethnic woman can help their skin glow like Spalding's by using skin care products for black skin.  

Jill Scott inspires confidence and pride in being a woman

R&B singer and actress Jill Scott is talented, confident and never afraid to speak her mind. The Chicago Tribune recently profiled the African American singer, highlighting her remarkable ability to not let anything hold her back from being her true self, even during a performance at the White House.

At a recent White House event Scott preformed the poem "Womanifesto," making bold statements about the plight of being a woman.

“A woman is more than the sum of her parts,” Scott told the Tribune. “So I had an opportunity to present some work at the White House, I chose not just to talk about the sky, the planet, love or heartache. I wanted to actually be there, to place a mark on that moment.”

Billboard magazine reports that after going through two painful break-ups Scott channeled her emotions into her music to produce her new album, The Light of the Sun.

Women who want to gain Scott's confidence should consider starting with skin care products for black skin. Designed specifically for ethnic women, African American skin care products can help you feel confident on the outside and inside.

How soy can benefit the skin

For years there has been research conducted on the health benefits of soy. Along with being a good source of antioxidants and protein, soy can also be beneficial to the skin.

According the the Mayo Clinic, soy may improve the signs of sun damage to the skin. This includes discoloration, blotchiness and texture. Though more research needs to be conducted, there has also been preliminary evidence that shows that soy may help with skin aging by possibly reducing wrinkles.

The National Institutes of Health reports that a study conducted on hairless mice found that treating the rodents' skin with soy resulted in the skin having a better overall appearance and less wrinkles.

The study states in the conclusion, "it appears that isoflavones (soy) had an anti-aging effect on the UV-damaged hairless mice model."

Though more research needs to be conducted to determine the anti-aging effect that soy has on human skin, these results are promising. Women looking to improve their skin and minimize the appearance of black skin dark spots should consider using an African American skin care products that contains soy.