Photoprotective Role of Melanin An SPF of 2 means the doubling of protection of the skin against sunburn. Dark skin, which contains more eumelanin than fair skin is better protected against UV-induced damage, and eumelanin is thought to be superior to pheomelanin in its photoprotective properties.
Melanocytes are the cells that make a brown pigment called melanin. Melanin helps block out damaging UV rays up to a point, which is why people with naturally darker skin are less likely to get a sunburn. People with lighter or more pale skin have less melanin. They are more likely to burn from UV rays rather than tan.
Genetics play a factor in how many melanocytes a person has. These melanocytes are activated by sunlight and tanning beds. The fewer number of melanocytes, the paler the skin, the easier it burns. The more melanocytes activated the more melanin is produced, the easier it tans or turns darker.
Light-skinned individuals tend to tan more quickly because their skin has less melanin to begin with. As they are exposed to UV radiation, the skin produces more melanin to protect itself, leading to a more noticeable tan. For more insights, visit my Quora Profile!
Due to family and genetics, some people's skin is more sensitive than others, especially fair skin. But skin color does not determine sensitivity. The frequency of this condition generally decreases with age.
The preference for more golden or 'yellow-toned' skin as healthier might be explained by the 'carotenoid pigments' that we get from the fruit and vegetables in our diet. These plant pigments are powerful antioxidants that soak up dangerous compounds produced when the body combats disease.
Lighter- skin was perceived as being more attractive, and associated with four themes about dating: (a) positive personality traits, (b) increased value in dating contexts, and (c) sexual appeal to men.
Type IV – Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: the Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic.
Blue-eyed, fair-skinned people show more aging skin changes than people with darker, more heavily pigmented skin. With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases.
Results indicated that preference for light skin tones were associated with increased levels of self-esteem. Higher levels of ethnic identity attitude were associated with preference for medium skin tones. Finally, there was a trend for participants with darker skin tones having a preference for medium skin tone.
People with skin type III, have sensitive skin. Their skin may sometimes burn and tan to a light bronze, but their risk for skin cancer remains higher than average. Skin Type III individuals are also susceptible to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Paleness is related to blood flow in the skin rather than deposit of melanin in the skin. Paleness can be caused by: Anemia (blood loss, poor nutrition, or underlying disease) Problems with the circulatory system.
You might be using it incorrectly. “The biggest thing I see with patients is that they are not applying enough sunscreen, and they aren't reapplying it,” says David Harvey, M.D., a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Piedmont Healthcare. “It doesn't matter if you use SPF 100 when you don't apply enough.
According to a study called “Shades of beauty,” light brown skin tones are often the most physically attractive skin color (Frisby et al., 2006). They used four models for that study. They did not change the skin tone, but they imaged each model to three different skin tones: light, medium, and dark.
Individuals with fair skin have a low production of melanin, which increases their sensitivity to the sun's rays. This skin type is particularly prone to sunburn and often struggles to tan.
Findings indicated that non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics have accelerated aging, and non-Hispanic Whites have decelerated aging.
Skin barrier function is reportedly stronger in darker skin tones (the stratum corneum is the skin barrier). Asian skin is reported to have similarities with Caucasian skin in terms of water loss and has the weakest barrier function.
“Runner's Face” is a term used to describe the worn out and 'skeletal' look that runners sometimes develop in their later years. As running causes us to burn lots of fat, doing lots of it tends to create areas of volume loss that become more pronounced as we get older.
The most prevalent fatty acid in sebum, sapienic acid (16:1, n10), is significantly higher in African Americans and correlated with the higher sebum output in that ethnic group.
Light skin is most commonly found amongst the native populations of Europe, East Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, Siberia, and North Africa as measured through skin reflectance.
It is frequent among select indigenous populations of Latin America, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. It ranges from olive to brown skin tones. This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.
Researchers have found that men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin due to its association with purity, innocence, modesty and goodness, while women feel that darker complexions are associated with sex, virility and danger.
Golden skin tones are medium skin tones. This skin tone is usually seen in people of Asian and Southern European ethnic descent. It can also be referred to as olive skin. This skin tone has a balanced neutral beige hue.
Today, having a tan is associated with people that have an active, outdoor lifestyle. A tan therefore makes people look healthier and fit. Pale skin is often associated with sickness (e.g. anaemia) which is another, indirect reason why a tan makes people seem healthier.