Women of Color

What determines skin color?
Skin color comes from melanin, a pigment produced by special skin cells called melanocytes. Melanin is transferred from melanocytes to another skin cell in packets called melanosomes. Skin color depends on the type of melanin and on the size, number and distribution of the melanosomes within these cells. For example, darker skin tones have larger melanosomes, while more fair skin tones have smaller ones.

Melanin does more than just create variations of skin color — it also provides sun protection. It absorbs the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays before they reach the deeper layers of the skin. Having more melanin provides greater protection from sun damage and its aging effects on skin. The first signs of aging tend to be wrinkles for lighter skin tones, while darker skin tones with more protective melanin tend to experience uneven pigmentation such as dark spots and discoloration. Learn more about melanin.

Causes of hyperpigmentation.
Many factors can cause hyperpigmentation or darker pigmentation. These include hormones, sun exposure, inflammation and genetics. Hyperpigmentation is a condition where patches of skin are darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin forms larger deposits in the skin.

Hyperpigmentation can affect the color of any skin tone; however, it may appear as an earlier sign of aging among darker skin tones. Darkened skin patches can become darker or more pronounced when skin is exposed to the sun. This happens because sunlight increases the production of melanin. When skin produces more melanin, it helps prevent further ultraviolet damage; however, it does not stop all skin damage, such as damage that occurs due to tanning or in areas not protected by melanin. Therefore, using a moisturizer with UV protection is very important for skin’s health and appearance. Learn more about Definity products with UV protection.

What causes dull and ashy skin?
Dry skin can appear duller and ashy on darker skin tones because dry skin flakes are more visible on darker skin. Dry skin occurs because of its inability to retain moisture. This can be caused by a lower level of sebum, the skin’s natural lubricant, and by damage to skin’s natural moisture-barrier building blocks as a result of exposure to drying cleansers/chemicals or cleansing too frequently. It can also be caused by an increased loss of water due to a drier climate, sun exposure and age. Dry skin tends to feel tight and uncomfortable, particularly after washing. Additionally, chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin. Skin dullness and ashiness can be eliminated by applying a deep-penetrating skin moisturizer. Learn more about deep-hydrating Definity products.