Our skin is the most delicate and sensitive organ of our body. It comes in various colours, and they referred as skin tones. They are determined by the supply of pigment on the outer layer, called melanin. Dark skin tone is the result of more melanin and pale skin tone is of less melanin.
Melanin is best to protect skin from UV rays. While encountering UV rays, skin cells melanocytes fastly produce melanin, which result in a tan. People with fair skin have fewer melanocytes, result with sunburn. Naturally some people are abandoned with melanin which protects them from harmful UV rays.
Knowing your skin tone is beneficial for you. You can protect your skin from UV rays in a better way and can give your skin a proper treatment.
The simple distinction for a skin tone is either warm or cool. Simply, look at your arm, if your veins are blue then you have a cool skin tone. If your veins are green then you have a warm skin tone with yellow undertones.
Skin Types:
German anthropologist Felix von Luschan was the first one who described skin tone. In the early 20th century he created the Von Luschan chromatic 36- tone scale but unfortunately his scale proved inexact and complex. In 1950s people again began to ponder the significance of their skin tone.
Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, a Harvard-educated doctor, accepted it as a challenge. He designed the Fitzpatrick scale based on both a person’s complexion and skin reaction on sun exposure. Fitzpatrick classified skin tone into six major types: light, fair, medium, olive, brown and black.
To determine your skin tone, ask yourself three questions:
- What color on the scale resembles my skin the most?
- What is my pigmentation?
(Type 1 is pale white skin while type VI is dark skin tone.)
- How does my skin react to sun exposure?
(Type 1 burn easily while type VI burn rarely or never.)
Importance of Knowing Your Skin Tone:
Skin tone is better to know, especially in the prevention of skin cancer. Skin tone type I, II or III is at a higher risk to develop skin cancer. These skin types lack in having the enough quantity of melanin as of type IV, V or VI.
Treatment of dark skin is different from pale skin in certain situations. This is because of the reaction of melanin in the epidermis. Make sure your dermatologist is aware of these different treatments. Determining your correct skin tone will help you in picking the correct cosmetics and clothing.
Finding your skin tone isn’t difficult at all. You’ve probably done it. Now put it into use. Avoid UV rays and take proper advantage of your natural skin tone. Every skin is good so be natural and think critical!!