About Brown Skin
Ancestry
Women with brown skin come from a wide and diverse range of ancestry.
Asian Brown Skin
The Asian population is very diverse in terms of origin and skin hue. This population group is subdivided into East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans), Southeast Asian (Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Thais, Cambodians, Vietnamese) and South Asian (Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans).Individuals from East Asia tend to be lighter in skin color, whereas many South Asians and Southeast Asians have light brown to dark brown skin.
Hispanic Brown Skin
Hispanics or Latinos are a diverse group of people who share common language and certain cultural similarities.There are differences in race and skin tone within this ethnic group. For example, European Hispanics characteristically have lighter skin color and are considered Caucasian.
However, a large number of Latinos from North America, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean have many different hues of brown skin. Their mixed ancestry often combines Caucasian, indigenous Native Indian, and African cultures and races.
African Brown Skin
People of African heritage are also a large and diverse group of people with a wide array of shades of brown skin. These individuals are either from or have ancestors from the African continent (combined with European and/or Native Indian), and many present day blacks self-identify as African-Americans or African-Caribbeans.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
