SKIN TIPS #7 - WHAT GIVES US OUR SKIN TONE?

Skin is made of layers of different types of cells. The deepest layer contains pigment cells (or melanocytes). The pigment made by these cells gives us our skin toning. This pigment also helps to block UV radiation.

It follows that people with darker skin tones make more pigment and have more natural UV protection than people with fairer skin. One surprising thing is that in New Zealand the sunlight is so harsh that even people with dark skin can get sunburn!

At the other end of the spectrum, some people can't make enough pigment. 'Albinism', is an example of a genetic disorder where the skin makes little or no pigment. People with albinism have extremely fair skin and hair and extreme sensitivity to sunlight.

How pigment cells make moles

Sometimes pigment cells grow in a cluster a making a dark spot commonly called a 'mole'. The medical term for mole is 'naevus' and the pleural is 'naevi ( = moles)'.

A naevus is benign. However, if a naevus becomes cancerous then is called a melanoma.

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HOW DOES SKIN TAN? - When we are exposed to sunlight the pigment cells make more pigment, darkening the skin and increasing 'protection' from the sunlight. However, a suntan shouldn't be something we are striving for as tanning is actually your body's crisis response to ultraviolet radiation exposure'.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID TANNING - Kiwis are typically a nation of people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Even with hat and sunscreen, it can be nigh on impossible to avoid tanning if we are 'outdoorsy'. Sun exposure, especially between 10 and 4pm, does more damage to the DNA in our skin cells, so the less sun in the middle of the day the better.

If you're one of the 'outdoorsy' kiwis keep in mind that, where possible, it makes more sense to do gardening, boating, biking, walking etc in the shade or in the early morning or evening when UV rays aren't so intense/damaging.

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TODAY'S TIP: CLOUDS DON'T PREVENT SUNBURN

Even when it's cloudy, up to 80 percent of the sun's UV radiation reaches the earth! So yes, even if it's cloudy, you should still put on a hat, slap on the sunscreen and cover-up that skin!