{"id":1682,"date":"2025-07-16T16:55:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=1682"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:58:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:58:16","slug":"why-tanning-feels-so-complicated-for-south-asian-women-like-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/16\/why-tanning-feels-so-complicated-for-south-asian-women-like-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Tanning Feels So Complicated For South Asian Women Like Me"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to Sun Blocked<\/a>, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Six weeks of summer break now feel like a distant memory. Blink and suddenly your free time is rationed out in PTO days. Back then, summer followed a familiar pattern: in between playing Snake on my mom\u2019s old-school cell phone and reading my latest library book, I\u2019d wait patiently for the first kid on our quiet street to knock on my door with the simple question: \u201cDo you want to come out and play?\u201d This usually meant transforming our empty driveways into makeshift baseball fields, with green trash bins expertly placed as bases, before taking turns to whack a ball as far as we could. Hours in the sun inevitably left me with a tan, the mark of an enjoyable summer. But not everybody saw my tan as a badge of honor like I did.<\/p>\n

One day, I walked back into my house after a fun-filled afternoon, ready to relay tales of my (largely fabricated) sporting triumphs. Instead, my aunt led the conversation. She was in total shock \u2014 actually, disgust \u2014 at my darker skin tone, and scolded my mum for allowing me to play in the sun all summer. \u201cYou look dark just like that <\/em>Bipasha,\u201d she said with disapproval. She was referring to Bipasha Basu, a prominent Bollywood actress, who was heavily criticized throughout her career thanks to her darker skin. Basu was relentlessly picked apart for not being \u201cfair and lovely\u201d \u2014 a beauty standard<\/a> thrust on South Asian women. As such, even her acting talent was called into question. The message from then on was clear: dark skin<\/a> was not pretty.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why is tanned skin still taboo among South Asians?<\/h2>\n

For South Asians, this is a deeply entrenched belief. Historically, darker skin has been associated with lower status, especially among outdoor laborers who spent significant time in the sun. Meanwhile, lighter skin was often considered the ultimate mark of privilege, wealth, and a higher social standing. Fast forward to 2025, and this deep-rooted stigma is still pervasive among darker-skinned South Asians today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Being teased and likened to Basu was a regular occurrence during my childhood, and it was confusing. After all, Basu was beautiful; she was a Bollywood star for goodness\u2019 sake. So why were our similar skin tones such a bad thing? And why was it acknowledged with so much overt distaste? While it felt conflicting, I saw no appeal in hiding away from the sun just to stay fair. I didn\u2019t recognize it then, but I\u2019d later realize that this was colorism<\/a> rearing its ugly head.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m certainly not the only one who\u2019s been side-eyed \u2014 or openly shamed \u2014 for enjoying some sun. In fact, this tension is commonplace in South Asian families. Bhavi*, who was 25 at the time, recalls returning from a beach vacation feeling herself. She\u2019d attained a \u201cnice glow\u201d, but her family didn\u2019t take the same view. They were worried she would look \u201ctoo dark\u201d for an upcoming wedding, and Bhavi tells me that she was strongly encouraged to use tan remover to ensure she looked good in her sari. After this incident, not to mention a string of similar experiences that followed, tanning now has a derogatory connotation for Bhavi. Even if somebody genuinely compliments her tan, it still feels like criticism: \u201cI automatically take it as a negative thing,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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I think it\u2019s time to let go of the myth that melanin is some type of super shield \u2014 or worse, something to fear or be ashamed of.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Why are so many South Asians reluctant to wear sunscreen?<\/h2>\n

South Asian beauty standards have long dictated the \u201cright\u201d skin tone, among other ideals<\/a> such as clear skin and thinness. This has inevitably shaped our complex relationships with tanning \u2014 and inadvertently sun protection, too. Colorism and outdated beauty ideals also shape how \u2014 and if \u2014 South Asian women use sun protection. Sunscreen is rarely used for skin health, but rather to appease internalized fears of becoming \u201ctoo dark\u201d. In some cases, sunscreen is avoided altogether, and there is evidence to support this.<\/p>\n

According to a 2024 study<\/a> in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, one-third of South Asian American respondents reported being more concerned about the prevention of tanning over skin cancer. This makes sense, given that sun protection advice for South Asians tends to be limited to: \u201cDon\u2019t get too dark, otherwise nobody will marry you.\u201d In a similar vein, a 2025 study showed that 41% of surveyed South Asian adults said they skip sunscreen<\/a> due to \u201clow perceived risk\u201d of sun damage. This goes to show just how little the benefits of wearing sunscreen are discussed in South Asian households, let alone taken seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is unsurprising, then, that many South Asian women tell me they began their SPF journeys much later in life. Riya*, who is 43 next month, admits that she only started using sunscreen three years ago. It wasn\u2019t a dermatologist or a skincare influencer that got through to her, but her 13-year-old daughter, who Riya says is \u201cconstantly schooling\u201d her on the topic: \u201cI genuinely never knew how much of a concern [sun damage] was,\u201d she says, grateful to her daughter for pushing the subject. This is particularly heartening because, speaking from experience, getting a South Asian to change their viewpoint is no small feat. As a community, we are undeniably stuck in our ways, so Riya\u2019s story is a reminder that the next generation of South Asians can be better informed and break the cycle.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Meena*, 47, rarely used sun protection growing up, but began to take it more seriously in the last ten years. This has become even more pressing after a recent health scare. Meena had a basal cell carcinoma \u2014 the most common type of skin cancer<\/a>, usually caused by sun exposure \u2014 removed earlier this year. \u201cI never thought I could get skin cancer,\u201d Meena tells me. She was surprised to learn from her doctor that it was not down to new sun exposure, but rather the result of several years of UV exposure over time. Reflecting on South Asian attitudes around sunscreen, Meena points out: \u201cDarker-skinned communities don\u2019t really think about [skin cancer] as they\u2019ve lived without sun protection for generations, so it\u2019s pretty standard to not use any.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is it time for South Asians to rethink our approach to sun protection?<\/h2>\n

If there was ever a time for South Asians to rethink their relationship with sun protection, it\u2019s now. Meena\u2019s story tracks with what consultant dermatologist Dr. Angela Tewari<\/a> is seeing in the clinic. She tells me that skin cancer statistics and the demographics it affects have shifted since COVID: \u201cThe number of early melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas is increasing,\u201d she explains. There\u2019s data to support Dr. Tewari\u2019s anecdotal evidence. Skin cancer cases are on the rise, and the projected numbers for 2025 are sobering. In the US, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates 212,000 new melanoma cases<\/a> and 8,430 related deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While there is less data on skin cancer rates among South Asians, the risk is still very real and stories like Meena\u2019s are a stark reminder of the price of dismissing sun care. This is especially important given the longstanding myths<\/a> that \u201cbrown people can\u2019t get skin cancer\u201d or \u201cbrown people can\u2019t burn\u201d. I have personally shown the latter to be false. These beliefs clearly still hold a lot of weight in South Asian communities; nearly half of the surveyed South Asian Americans in the aforementioned study from 2024 believe they are not at risk of skin cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Our melanin makes us beautiful, yes \u2014 but it doesn\u2019t make us invincible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

What\u2019s behind the sunscreen myths in South Asian communities?<\/h2>\n

Consultant dermatologist Dr. Shaaira Nasir<\/a> wants to dispel the falsehood that South Asians are somehow immune to skin cancer: \u201cEven though melanin provides some protection against the sun\u2019s harmful rays, as [South] Asians we still need to protect our skin by using sunscreen,\u201d she explains. She adds that sun exposure is cumulative and causes around 80% of our skin aging. So where do you even start with sun protection? Dr. Shaaira recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 to 50. \u201cIt\u2019s worth investing in a tinted mineral sunscreen<\/a> (containing zinc or titanium oxide) that will protect against both UV and visible light,\u201d she adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It sounds simple enough, but for many South Asian women, finding the right sunscreen is anything but. Many sunscreens on the market are guilty of leaving a lingering white cast<\/a>, which may be another reason why sunscreen is often skipped. Of course, some products don\u2019t leave the cast of shame, but they\u2019re not always easy on the wallet. What the industry needs is innovative sun protection with brown skin tones in mind, as well as accessible price points.<\/p>\n

Dr. Tewari agrees that increased melanin is nowhere near enough protection on its own. Even more concerningly, she sees many South Asian patients with darker skin tones who are often worried about skin issues like hyperpigmentation \u2014 worsened by sun exposure \u2014 but far fewer who are considering the risk of skin cancer. To bridge this disconnect, Dr. Tewari is keen to see South Asians not only protect their skin but also celebrate their skin color, regardless of the shade. \u201cWe all need to love and accept our skin tone,\u201d she says, adding, \u201cMy patients of color probably don\u2019t appreciate how lucky they are to have a beautiful, darker skin tone.\u201d But the narrow goal of fair skin often means that we can\u2019t see past the cultural constraints and aren\u2019t thinking of the bigger picture when it comes to sun protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s time to let go of the myth that melanin is some type of super shield \u2014 or worse, something to fear or be ashamed of. Our melanin makes us beautiful, yes, but it doesn\u2019t make us invincible. We also don\u2019t need to hide from the sun (despite what the whispers of cultural stigma might have you believe), but rather rewrite what sun protection looks like for us, with daily SPF and regular skin checks (perhaps even mole mapping<\/a>) as part of that routine. <\/p>\n

More crucially, we need a shift in the cultural conversation around sun care. There is an undeniable knowledge gap around this in South Asian communities, stemming partly from ignorance and generational beliefs. But as Meena\u2019s \u201ceye-opening\u201d skin cancer experience shows, it has never been more important for South Asians to educate themselves, not just for their own sake but for future generations.<\/p>\n

*Name has been changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.<\/em><\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Is The \u201cCorrect\u201d Amount To Spend On SPF?<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Can’t SPF Brands Be Honest About White Casts?<\/a><\/p>\n

8 Risky Sunscreen Myths To Stop Believing ASAP<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun.\u00a0 Six…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1682"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1685,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682\/revisions\/1685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}