Unique Brown Skin
Although brown skin is diverse,
its unique characteristics bind us together
as women of color. The distinctions between brown skin and Caucasian skin are
numerous. Characteristics unique to brown skin include:
- More melanin, or brown skin pigment, resulting in a warmer skin shade
- Greater natural protection from the sun and lower risk of skin cancer
- Fewer visible signs of aging, such as deep wrinkles, fine lines and sun spots
- Potential problems with pigmentation, or uneven darkening or lightening of skin color
- Greater risk of keloid (raised, often large scars) development
- Problems with hair growth and ingrown hairs
Women with brown skin, whatever their racial or ethnic
origin, understand one another's challenges. Whether we call the discolorations
blemishes or descoloracions, or Mecheta, we all know that it will take months or years
to fade.
We each know how socially devastating it is to lose
the pigmentation in our skin (which is called vitiligo or Mal del Pinto.) It may prevent us from interacting with others and
sadly, in some countries, effects our ability to marry.
These common experiences bind
us together in unity.