Brighter side of dark melanin
While a quarter of the world is fighting the battle to diminish the thick line between fair and dark and the other quarter giving tips on a radiating dark, dusky or wheatish skin, here at WTN we tell you about the goodness of the pigment called melanin packed with healthy properties that are actually missing in the fair tone.
The typical black or brown pigment is the single most photo-protecting agent of skin which gives the skin its dark tone. The more time spent in sunshine without sunscreen, more melanin will be produced in the body.
The huge variations of the tones adds oomph if worn with a dash of confidence and attitude. It is necessary to understand that this sticky pigment called melanin is responsible for the dark skin, keeping it healthier, protecting it from Sun’s wrath and lowering the risk of skin cancer.
Here’s a quick read on advantages of darker skin
Resists UV rays: Melanin is a natural sunscreen. It covers the skin from within and resists the short-term Sun effects such as sunburn. Experts believe melanin dissipates about 99.9% of UV radiation from the sun. People with dark or dusky skin tones have melanin packed within tightly to absorb and scatter more light, thus, protecting from the sunrays. Hence, more melanin means less sunburn. However, there have been incidents where people even with dark tones have suffered from sunburns.
Less chances of cancer: The melanin layer protects against skin cancers and premature aging – especially among the dark-toned people. However, this does not mean that skin cancers do not happen to them.
Shields nervous system: Melanin is quiet pro at counteracting stress, regulating biological rhythms, delaying DNA degradation and ensuring messages from brain reach other areas of the body quickly. It helps the brain and nerves to function well, eyes to see and reproduces cells. In short, melanin refines the nervous system and protects against a parasite of the central nervous system, optic neuritis, parkinsons, PKU, spinal bifida, etc.
Boosts immunity: Melanin is an “antifungal resistance factor” and boosts body’s ability to combat pathogens. In other words, it inhibits proliferation of fungal and bacterial and parasitic infections on the skin.
Delays aging: Even though no one can escape the ravages of ageing melanin delays it by a few years. The greater the melanin in quantity the higher is the protection against wrinkles, rough surface texture, and age spots which are also known as liver dots or liver spots.
Caution
Though melanin pigments curb the chances of skin cancer, it is not a completely ruled out possibility. In fact, the flip side to it is that skin cancers are often detected among the dark and dusky tones at a later and more dangerous stage.
Dark-skin is more susceptible to the deadliest acral lentiginous melanoma. This occurs on the palms and soles. Also, excess of melanin may make the skin more reactive. A rash or inflammation may easily trigger the production of excess melanin, resulting in dark patches on the skin.
–windowtonews
