Table of contents:
- The secret behind Asian skin color
- Why dark skin is healthier (and younger)
- The fat on the face of Asian people also matters
'Asians are more youthful' is an assumption that has long been held by many, especially in Western countries. Statistics show that Asian women enjoy better health and a longer life. Japan has more than 50,000 elderly residents over 100 years of age, for example, and China generally has low breast cancer rates.
It's not only from a healthy diet that they do. There is a secret inside the body that can help Asian women look younger: physical and genetic characteristics.
The secret behind Asian skin color
Human skin color can vary from very pale to very dark. The color range comes from the amount and type of skin pigment called melanin. There are two types of melanin - eumelanin and pheomelanin.
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.
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 in many races in Asia that have brown skin, it is precisely the 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 paler, more freckled skin tone (freckles).
However, although genetics plays a big role in determining a person's skin color, there are many other external factors that cause why skin color between races can still vary from one another, one of which is sun exposure in each region.
Sunlight can be very dangerous due to the UV radiation it contains. UV radiation can destroy folic acid or cause mutations in the DNA of some skin cells. Sometimes, this mutation can lead to skin cancer.
Herein lies the advantage of having dark skin.
Why dark skin is healthier (and younger)
Dermatologists classify skin types based on color, type I being the palest to type VI being the darkest skin color.
"People in the type four or more, have more melanin in their skin which protects them from the sun," said dermatologist Monica Halem, MD, from Columbia University, quoted from webmd.com. A type VI black African ethnicity, for example, does not feel the effects of aging from the sun as much as a typical Caucasian person with fair skin, blonde hair, aka type one.
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 who have darker skin often look younger than people with pale skin.
However, people with dark skin are not completely protected 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.
The fat on the face of Asian people also matters
Some experts believe that the shape of the Asian face also contributes to the "superiority" of youth, because the location of fat on the face is different than other races. For example, Asian races have more fat around the eyes which prevents wrinkles in this area longer than other races. Facial fat in other areas such as around the mouth also affects why Asian women can look young. The fat pad around the mouth inhibits the formation of wrinkles, so they appear smoother than in other breeds.
In addition, the anatomy and facial features of Asian people, smaller eyes, thin lips, higher cheekbones, and short forehead are believed by some experts to make Asian women appear several years younger.
