Why are filipino people in the philippines so light-skinned when its hot and sunny there?

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Republika Ng Pilipinas

When i was in the philippines, i was not dark and tan. But when i came to america i grew darker. dude, it is because of the humidity and freshness of air. in america it is polluted and really concentrated that makes the skin darker. that is why i was fair-skinned in the philippines, but i came to america a my skin became a little tan.
edit:
that means i have spanish blood?
i will ask my grandma and my mom

Margie K

How much you are able to be tanned will depend on your genes, how many melanocytes (pigment cells) are in your skin. Your parents gave you your complexion and you can't get a refund, either.

"Those who can, tan; those who can't, burn." Or carry an umbrella.

kahlan nynaeveÂ®

It depends on the lineage.

I am a Filipino and I have "morena" or brown complexion. Some cousins on my father's side who took after our grandparents who have Spanish blood have light complexion and mestiza features while most cousins from my mother's side (where I took after) have really brown complexion, with some of them having an even darker complexion than mine.

Also, you might want to know about melanin. It's the pigment that determines the human skin color. From my science class, I learned that the more melanin the person has, the lesser is the probability of his / her getting a tan. Note that most dark-skinned individuals have more melanin than the fair-skinned ones. That is why whenever we go to the beach, I don't easily get burned, unlike my cousins who have Caucasian blood (i.e. the father was an American or Italian) whose skin reddens at the slightest exposure to the sun.

Taylor C

dude , not all of them are light skinned ...look it up.

EO Layne

Not a lot of them are actually light-skinned; hence the explosion of "lightening soaps" and creams in the market.

Those that are, get that from being mixed-race kids or having a European or East Asian ancestor.

jmaramag

Many factors could explain it. You have given one already, the whitening creams, lotions, capsules, mets, etc although some Filipinos have no need for them because they are light-skinned already and wishes to keep it light by avoiding sun exposure. Nature of descent also comes to play, most families with Chinese, Spanish, etc lineage have light complexions.
Geography also is a factor, if you compare complexions of people from the city and island... The islanders are of noticeably darker skin.

=)

frederico

Not really all of them are light skinned. Mostly are yellowish brown/morena. White, and chocolate brown.

And so what if it's hot and sunny, I'm white skinned and I always play absketball outside but I don't get tanned. Actually being brown skinned in a very hot place saves you from ULTRA VIOLET RAYS.

Which causes cancer.

Most of them are poor, so they don't have money to buy those creams and all. It's very expensive in the philippines you know, a dollar costs 60 pesos. imagine that. so it's just natural.

Joe M

i asked my wife that same question! she said its because they always stay out of the sun whenever possible and work with hats sunscreen. actually i am a whitey and she burns easier than i do! must be genetic

Lovey Dovey

some of us are dark-skinned and some are light. our weather doesnt have anything to do with it. our genes are responsible for our color tone. but like all people we get very dark too if we stay too long in the sun either because we have to work outdoors or we're in the beach all the time.

Yes some bleach. No matter how many times they hear it's bad for the skin.
The people are all shades from white to black. Sound familiar?
Do you know what assume breaks down to?

Lia

it doesn't mean that if you live in a tropical country, you have a tanned or darker complexion

BBN

Activation of pigmented cells in the skin (melanocytes) results into tanning in response to sun exposure. Light skinned people have less melanocytes than dark skinned people. People have different concentrations of melanocytes in skin that is why some people get tan more easily than others.

A lot of people here stay out of the sun and use either or combination of sunblock, umbrella, or hat.

heartburn

we know how to use an umbrella.

A.W.

You get the skin you are born with. Most Filipinos I know are dark skin and quite attractive with it. The ones who have artificial light skin look like Michael Jackson, or worse. Some have a natural light color of skin but as long as its a natural color it always looks better than someone trying to look like something they are not. If you have some skin disease or deformation its ok to try to cover that up but to try to be something you're not is just wrong. Some people spend a small fortune trying to become beautiful but they never smile. The smile costs nothing and it improves most peoples looks 100%.

Alex

really? last time i checked there aren't really many.
only celebs,and ones that have a mixed race. Some get it from genes and most of us love using whitening products.

Mickey the zombie

put a suck into it yer skin is dark,not light accept it.no damn whitening creams gonna help yah

Juan C

maybe they're mestizo(s(as)) (mixed white, mostly American/Spanish/Australian or East Asian, mostly are Chinese)...

Bhuwisit

They're not; get an eye exam.

Î© allan y

most filipinos are products of intermarriage of different races.

i don't understand you guys. it was just my opinion about MOST filipinos. i didn't say ALL filipinos.

i myself am a product of such union.

so chill out!!!!

Time Will Tell

Most of the Filipinos that you meet are immigrants from spain, and portugal with some intermixing with the real natives. The real natives of the land are the negritos. I've met the negrito; the most honorable people I've ever known. They are quite short and very dark skinned. They never had a written language so their word is the same as signing a written document. Break your word with a negrito at your own peril.
On the other hand, if you befriend a negrito, you become friends with the entire tribe.

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