Fair Skin Or Healthy Skin?

Given a choice between fair skin and dark skin, most people would choose fair skin. But what if the choice was either fair skin or healthy skin, what would most of you prefer?

We as a society are obsessed with fair skin. We are also influenced by not just the media but it is engrained our minds that fair skin is the definition of beauty. Once it was women who were defined as beautiful based of their skin colour but off late even men are being defined as good looking based on how fair skinned they are. How else would you explain the increase in the number of men’s fairness products in the market today?

Dr. Sasikumar Muthu of Pearl Health says that Indian weather conditions by default makes our skin prone to tanning. And all Indian skin falls in the category of type 4, i.e. brown skin. “People need to understand that what makes a skin glow and look good is not its colour but how healthy and flawless it is. At Pearl Health we believe that healthy skin is beautiful skin. It is a healthy skin that makes you look youthful and gives a fair glow,” he adds.

So what are the reasons for skin to appear tanned or become unhealthy? According to the doctor, the main reason is exposure to the sun which results in tanning. Other factors like pollution, unhealthy eating habits, not drinking enough water, hormonal imbalances and some medical conditions can also result in the skin looking dull.

Another factor is reduction skin turnover. Losing dead skin cells at regular periods is a natural process. But sometimes this process could be delayed causing the build of a layer of dead skin cells especially on the face making one appear tanned and dull. In such cases simple skin whitening or skin polishing procedures can help make the skin look brighter and youthful.