Page 24 - INSIGHT 2021

In the areas receiving lesser UV radiations, dark skin tanning is just a temporary process and after a week or We are Beautiful! 7. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-
would absorb almost all of it and hinder Vitamin D so, it starts to fade away as the outer layer of our skin Michael Schenker once said, “If everyone would look does-a-tan-last#summary

production which might lead to Vitamin D deficiency. begins to exfoliate naturally. for that uniqueness, then we would have a very colourful 8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdi-
rect/10.1111/phpp.12541
Thus, the variation in skin colour arose to fulfil our need world.” I think God also gave a similar thought while
9. https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/
to protect our cells from the harmful UV radiations and Effect of diet on skin pigmentation creating us. However, people have different beliefs about
abs/10.1080/15216549700203481
use a portion of it for Vitamin D production. The trait If you ask whether the food we eat affects our skin, then it, a fair complexion is often correlated with prosperity,
10. https://www.aocd.org/page/Hyperpigmenta-
evolved through time as people migrated to places with the straight-away answer to it is yes. A healthy diet will and higher socio-economic status. On the contrary, a tion#:~:text=Hyperpigmentation%20is%20a%20com-
varying availability of UV radiations. The colour of our keep our body as well as our skin healthy. It has been darker skin tone is considered low-ranking according mon%2C%20usually,forms%20deposits%20in%20
skin is purely the product of thousands of years of evo- seen that food rich in carotene and antioxidants, like to the conventional beauty standards. We are subjected the%20skin.
lution and is not subject to any judgment. A TedEd sweet potatoes, carrots, etc., prevent the skin from hy- to colourism every day by accounting for a lighter skin 11. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi-
tions/vitiligo/symptoms-causes/syc-20355912#:~:-
Video has put this more concisely “Skin colour may ab- perpigmentation and sun-burns. These food will not tone as premium. Our Indian mythology has an endless
text=Vitiligo%20is%20a%20condition%20in,of%20
sorb light, but it certainly doesn’t reflect character.” cause instant skin lightening. No food can do that. list of dark-skinned alluring ladies who were consid-
skin%20color%20in%20patches.
Similarly, no food causes skin darkening. Now hyper- ered the epitome of beauty in their era. Draupadi is de-
12. https://www.pfizer.com/news/featured_stories/
Are fairness creams worth it? pigmentation should not be confused with developing scribed as a dark-skinned, head-strong woman, and Sita featured_stories_detail/myths_about_vitiligo
Acceptance of oneself is the key to a happy life, but this a darker skin colour. Hyperpigmentation is a harmless is often described as peach-and-cream in complexion. 13. htt p://www.ijdv l.co m/ar tic le .as -
doesn’t seem to be prevalent in our society. The increas- condition where some part of the skin becomes darker So, how did we come to this? These ideas of beauty were p?issn=0378-6323;year=2013;volume=79;is-
ing standards of beauty and its common linking to skin than the rest. For example, the skin around a wound- planted in our mind by our colonial masters. sue=5;spage=679;epage=685;aulast=Pahwa
14. https://www.self.com/story/diy-beauty-hacks-
colour has made people rely more on beauty products ed area turns dark or the appearance of freckles or age As people are becoming more aware of racism, we are
dont-do-them
to get a fairer skin. The main target of all these fairness spots on the face. finally beginning to realise that dark is equally beautiful.
15. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/25/living/
creams and skin whitening treatments is to decrease Several skin diseases are wrapped by societal stigmas “Beauty comes from within” holds true irrespective of
pantry-beauty/index.html
melanin production. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in the and are often considered to be caused by eating cer- our skin stone. So, let’s look into the mirror, and say “I
synthesis of melanin thereby tyrosinase inhibitors are tain food combinations. One such disease is vitili- AM BEAUTIFUL!”
the major constituents in such treatments and creams. go (a skin condition characterized by light patches
References:
Other ways to curb melanin production include block- across the skin due to the death of melanocytes in that
ing receptors or interference in the normal melanin area). It is often considered that certain food combi- 1. https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-re-
sources/biology-skin-color#:~:text=This%20film%20
synthesis pathway. The frequently used constituents of nations cause or worsen the condition and mixed-race
explores%20the%20hypothesis,pigment%20eumela-
fairness creams that cause skin whitening are hydro- kids inherit vitiligo. But there is no evidence support-
nin%20in%20skin%20cells.
quinone, retinoic acid, corticosteroids along with var- ing these notions. People with vitiligo suffer from
2. https://blog.ed.ted.com/2016/03/22/the-sci-
ious other chemicals. As the saying goes, no pain, no prejudice and rejection which deeply impacts them. ence-of-skin-color-in-ted-ed-gifs/#:~:text=Over%20
gain – similarly, these have adverse side effects on our many%20generations%20of%20selection,in%20
health. Hydroquinone usage strongly correlates to the The insanity of skin-care hacks those%20regions%20gradually%20lightened.&text=T-
development of cataracts and long-term usage causes The dramatic worries for our appearance have made us herefore%2C%20skin%20color%20is%20little,certain-
ly%20does%20not%20reflect%20character.
nephrotoxicity (i.e. deterioration of the kidneys) and try everything that the internet serves us for the bait
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_whiten-
leukemia (blood cancer). Similarly, long-term usage of of a glowing and flawless skin. Nevertheless, we fail to
ing#Side_effects
corticosteroids leads to percutaneous absorption and check the credibility of these sources and the downside
4. https://www.practo.com/healthfeed/fairness-
causes skin atrophy (thinning of the skin), glaucoma, of using the suggested stuff on our faces. These beauty creams-fact-or-fiction-23009/post
edemas, and cataracts. Thus, we need to make a sound tips and tricks often go too far and end up suggesting 5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi-
decision as to the cost we are willing to pay and use such the items that should be kept away from our faces. For tions/glaucoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372839#:~:-
beauty products. instance, from using glue to make peel-off masks and text=Glaucoma%20is%20a%20group%20of,over%20
the%20age%20of%2060.
applying toothpaste on acne to exfoliating skin with
6. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/
Tanning baking soda and applying egg whites on the face, these
heart-failure/edema-overview#1
Sun tanning is due to UV exposure that leads to an in- outrageously stupid hacks can not only harm the skin
crease in the amount of melanin, thus acting as a natural irreversibly but can also leave one with some permanent
mechanism in our body to combat the ill effects of ex- scars. So, before trying these hacks on your precious
cessive UV radiation. Contrary to the belief that expo- face, prefer doing some research.
sure to the sun can lead to permanent skin darkening, 18 19