Why doesn't the sun affect African American skin the same way it does Caucasians?

Question

I mean I know if we stay out there for hours and hours we'll eventually start to burn from it, but it's not as quick and severe as it is for Caucasians why is that? Just curious.......

Answer 1

It is true that Africans have more melanin in their skin than the Europeans, however, it is not the case for natives of northern Canada or Russian Fed. who have darker skin than Europeans even though they live in cold sun deprived conditions most time of the year.

So something happened during the evolution that caused Europeans to loose their melanin more than other population with similar or colder climates.

it could be:

-difference in diet

-diseases

-different adaptation to climate

-natural predisposition to sun

Answer 2

The darker the skin tone, there more melanin there is in it.  Melanin are tiny little blocking particles that protect your skin cells (specifically the DNA in the nucleus) from being damaged by the sun.  Some people (darker) naturally have way more of this pigment than others (lighter).  

So basically, African Americans or anyone with dark skin has natural, built in sunblock and Caucasians tend to have a lot less and therefore burn much faster.

Answer 3

Because our ancestors needed to have dark skin in Africa, Jamaica, etc. They needed it because it was always hot there so they needed built in sunscreen. Lighter cultures come from places that are not as hot with less sun so the skin melanin is such that it reflects individuals that did not need much skin melanin. God made animals so that they could survive in their environment and gave you the ability to pass on your unique genes through DNA. Same reason a polar bear has a coat that is reflective of his or her environment.

Answer 4

caucasians have less melanin (a type of pigment) in their skin.