Sun Screen

[Ember]

I was curious to know why the African umpire at the current cricket series was  wearing sun screen.   I do hope I am not causing offence, I have no intention of doing so.    Do people with very dark skin get sunburn?   I did notice that none of the England team seemed to be wearing sun screen at that particular match.

[Englishbird]

Dark skins can still get sun-burnt, it just takes more or longer to happen.  One of my best friends is mixed race and she probably gets sun-burnt about once a year in england and rarely wears sun cream.  I have to admit to taking the mick quite a lot when she does get burnt! :) but then i'm so white i'm blue and can never get a tan which is a source of amusment for everyone else!

[andy hughes]

Unlike the players, who move fairly regularly, umpries stand in exactly the same positions for long periods of time, which would give rise to sunburn if they didn't use protection - that applies to all skin types.

[Clanad]

Interesting concept... so... on a bright mid-summer day, one can avoid sunburn if they move about? Don't mind my skepticism. However, the darker the skin the more natural protection is afforded.  Aboriginals have the equivalent protection of a white person wearing SPF 40 sun blocker.  A friend, who is quite dark, burns almost every spring, but there is little reddening of the skin to indicate the burn, just discomfort.  Black skinned people suffer skin cancer, but at a much lower rate than whites...

[landie]

The moving about bit is acurate, as you expose different facets of your body to the sun's rays. Note how people who fall asleep in the sun usually burn rather than tan.