- Melanin offers some UV protection but doesn't prevent skin damage or cancer in Black skin.
- La Roche-Posay's grant supports diverse dermatology research addressing skin-of-color gaps and inclusivity.
- Advancements in technology, education, and research aim to improve dermatology care for Black patients.
On a summer day at the Citi Open, sunscreen feels less like a beauty recommendation and more like common sense. Between hours of tennis, heat and direct sun exposure, SPF should be as essential courtside as water and a good pair of sunglasses. But for Black people, the conversation around sun protection has historically been complicated by one particularly persistent myth: melanin will handle it. It won't. "While melanin provides some natural photoprotection, it is not enough to prevent ultraviolet (UV) damage, premature aging, or skin cancer," says Dr. Mona Gohara "UV radiation causes DNA mutations and oxidative stress in all skin types."
That science sits at the center of a much bigger conversation happening in dermatology right now. Because protecting Black skin is one thing. Making sure it is actually represented in the research, textbooks, diagnostic tools and clinical trials shaping modern medicine is another.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of La Roche-Posay's Young Investigator Grant program, an initiative designed to provide early-career dermatologists, residents and fellows with funding for clinical research. For its 2025 cycle, researchers submitted 28 proposals, with seven projects ultimately receiving grants, the most awarded in a single year in the program's history.
