The preference for more golden or 'yellow-toned' skin as healthier might be explained by the 'carotenoid pigments' that we get from the fruit and vegetables in our diet. These plant pigments are powerful antioxidants that soak up dangerous compounds produced when the body combats disease.
Research shows facial skin color that's brighter and yellower (right) looks healthier than the less bright and yellow counterparts (left).
Healthy skin is smooth, with no breaks in the surface. It is warm (not hot or red) and neither dry and flaky nor moist and wrinkled. Healthy skin is a mirror of a healthy body.
With unhealthy skin, it is easy to notice patches of different tones all over the face. These patches could appear as blotches of reddened or darkened color. One of the most common signs of unhealthy skin is excessive darkening around the eyes.
Skin that is slightly flushed with blood and full of oxygen suggests a strong heart and lungs, supporting the study's findings that rosier skin appeared healthy. Smokers and people with diabetes or heart disease have fewer blood vessels in their skin, and so skin would appear less rosy.
Discolored skin
Color changes to the skin can sometimes indicate underlying illness. "Skin sometimes looks gray, sallower, in people with underlying chronic illness," says Dr. Brod. Yellowish- or orangish-looking skin can be a sign of kidney or liver disease.
Flushed skin occurs when the blood vessels just below the skin widen and fill with more blood. For most people, occasional flushing is normal and can result from being too hot, exercising, or emotional responses. Flushed skin can also be a side effect of drinking alcohol or taking certain medications.
Normal skin is balanced—feeling neither too dry nor too oily. It is not prone to breakouts, flakiness, or feeling greasy or tight. People with normal skin typically have pores that are small, a smooth skin texture, and are less prone to sensitivity or blemishes.
While clear skin isn't always a sign of amazing health, that's not to say clear, healthy skin won't be a pleasant byproduct of making healthier choices. It can be difficult to have clear and glowing skin if a poor diet is a part of your daily routine.
The scientific term for well-balanced skin is eudermic. The T-zone (forehead, chin and nose) may be a bit oily, but overall sebum and moisture is balanced and the skin is neither too oily nor too dry. A velvety, soft and smooth texture is a sign for a healthy and radiant skin.
Based on these characteristics, there are five types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination (both oily and dry skin) and sensitive.
Researchers have found that men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin due to its association with purity, innocence, modesty and goodness, while women feel that darker complexions are associated with sex, virility and danger.
“Work in our lab has shown that darkly pigmented skin has far better function, including a better barrier to water loss, stronger cohesion, and better antimicrobial defense, and we began to ponder the possible evolutionary significance of that,” said Peter Elias, MD, professor of dermatology.
The most frequent skin color coded was white with pink undertones, which comprised 42.3% of the anatomical images. The second most prevalent color was pinkish brown, at 29.1%.
Those with pink skintones are typically pale skintones, from English or Celtic ancestry- the so-called "English Rose Complexion".
A harsh breeze, low temperature, and exposed sunlight can work together to cause a ruddy complexion. "People who work outside or spend a lot of time outdoors may experience red and splotchy skin," Hartman says.
The rarest skin color in the world is believed to be the white from albinism, a genetic mutation that causes a lack of melanin production in the human body. Albinism affects 1 in every 3,000 to 20,000 people. What is this? People with albinism usually have very pale or colorless skin, hair, and eyes.
“Our skin color helps identify who we are,” Puckett said. “A person's culture can be determined by the color of their skin, but one should never look at a person's skin color to determine the nature of the character of that person.
Skin color is one of the most important risk factors for skin aging and skin cancer. In Caucasians, the incidence rates of skin cancers and the severity of wrinkles are greater than in blacks. The brown skin of Asians seems to lie in between white and black skins.
Researchers have found that men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin due to its association with purity, innocence, modesty and goodness, while women feel that darker complexions are associated with sex, virility and danger.
Which hair colour do women think is the sexiest? Most women think brunette hair is the sexiest, as 25% of those polled favoured this option. Womens' second preference is blonde, which was voted as the sexiest hair colour by 19.6% of women. Again, red took third spot, accounting for 11.8% of womens' votes.
The ideal height for a woman, according to the average man, is 5'6”. Notably, this excludes 10% of men who say there is no such thing as too short and 9% who say no height is too tall. Similarly, there is no "too short" for 4% of women and no "too tall" for 7%.