Table of contents:
- White skin is not a determinant of how good a person's health condition is
- Dark skin is even more youthful
- How healthy is your skin?
- 1. Even skin tone
- 2. Skin feels smooth
- 3. Moisturized skin
- 4. There were no suspicious symptoms
White skin, smooth and clean, is still used as the standard measure to judge how beautiful or attractive someone looks. So do not be surprised if almost everyone becomes the victim of advertisements and tries desperately to whiten their skin with a variety of skin whitening products. Many also think that people with white skin are generally healthier because they always take care of them. But in fact it is not. Not necessarily whites are healthier than darker skin tones.
White skin is not a determinant of how good a person's health condition is
Human skin color can vary from very pale to very dark. This color variation comes from a combination of sun exposure and the amount and type of skin pigment called melanin. Like many traits, the amount and type of pigment in your skin is controlled by genes. Each of these genes works together to create the final product - your skin tone.
There are two types of melanin - eumelanin and pheomelanin. Most people who have white or very pale skin like those of the Caucasian race, or what we often know as “Caucasians”, have more pheomelanin, which results in lighter skin tones. Whereas for many people of Asian races with brown skin, it is precisely eumelanin that is more abundant.
In short, the more eumelanin on your skin, the darker your skin tone will be. People who have more pheomelanin will have a lighter skin tone and freckles (freckles).
However, light and dark skin color cannot be used as a benchmark for how healthy a person is. It is also not a determinant of whether your skin is healthy and well-groomed or not. If white skin is the standard of health, then what about those who are born with dark skin because they have a different genetic makeup? The reason is, their dark skin is just as normal as those with white skin. But indeed, people with dark skin have a lower risk of developing skin cancer than people who have white skin.
Dark skin is even more youthful
"People with dark skin have more melanin in their skin which protects them from the sun," says dermatologist Monica Halem, MD, of Columbia University, quoted from webmd.com. A jet black African ethnic group, for example, does not feel the effects of premature aging from solar radiation as badly as a typical Caucasian person with paper white skin.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental factor affecting the function and survival of various types of cells, and is considered a major causative factor for skin cancers such as alkaline cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Pigmentation in the skin is believed to protect against these bad effects, because melanin has antioxidant properties and scavengers against free radicals. A lot of research evidence shows that people with darker skin have a much lower incidence of skin cancer than white people.
Collagen also plays a role in fighting premature aging. While melanin absorbs UV radiation and protects the skin from within, collagen is a skin tissue building molecule that provides protection against disease and injury. The thicker the skin and the more melanin it contains, the better it protects against the aging process, including the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Therefore, people with darker skin often look younger than people with pale skin.
Even so, people with dark skin are not completely guaranteed from sun damage. Therefore, it is important to always use a moisturizer rich in vitamins E and C, as well as a minimum sunscreen of SPF-30 every time you do outdoor activities, even for those of you with dark skin.
How healthy is your skin?
Light and dark skin color can not be used as a health standard nor a person's eligibility standard. Regardless of what color your skin is, what is more important is to have healthy, well-groomed skin. The following are the characteristics of healthy skin:
1. Even skin tone
Several studies have shown that many people are more attracted to and like looking at skin with an even and consistent color. There are no freckles or blemishes that are usually caused by sun exposure.
2. Skin feels smooth
Skin with a smooth surface proved to be more attractive than one that was not. If you look at your skin, try to check if your skin surface is smooth or rough and uneven? If your skin is white, but has a rough surface, this is a sign that your skin is not as healthy as you thought. Rough skin can be caused by blackheads, pimples, fine wrinkles, and wounds.
3. Moisturized skin
Moisturized skin shows that you have taken good care of your skin. Conversely, dry skin can be a sign that your skin is unhealthy and "thirsty". Dry skin is usually scaly too. This is usually caused by rarely drinking water, rarely consuming vegetables and fruit, and not getting used to using sunscreen.
4. There were no suspicious symptoms
When you have healthy skin, you will very rarely feel itching, burning, or other discomfort on your skin. It could be, itching occurs due to an infection or fungus growing on the skin. Healthy skin also does not show the characteristics and symptoms of skin cancer.
So, it doesn't matter if you have white, olive, brown, brown, and even black skin. As long as your skin meets the above criteria, then you have healthy skin.
