Is it a deformity that white people can’t tan?

Elizabeth

White people can, generally, tan unless they have some forms of albinism where they can't produce much or any melanin. It is the production of melanin that results in a tan. The problem is that when very pale-skinned people are exposed to high UV levels, their melanin production is much slower than the rate at which that UV light is absorbed by their skin. This means they tend to burn and turn pink unless they use sunblock to reduce that UV exposure. But most pale-skinned people would develop a tan over time. In my own case, with pale Irish skin and red hair, I tend to burn to a crisp in anything resembling a sunny day. I don't consider this a deformity but the result of genetic mutation. My hair colour, for example, is a mutation of the MCR1 gene. I had hoped such mutations would have given me superpowers, but no ...

Mj

No. It's a myth.

Fred

As ancient people moved greater distances North in Europe they needed more body covering to protect against the increasing cold. The skin uses sunlight to produce vitamin D essential for bone development during pregnancy and successful pregnancy. To adjust for reduced sunlight and reduced skin exposure body skin melanin was reduced as a selective advantage. NOT a deformity!

lindsay

we just don’t have as much melanin

JUSTIN

racist lol

PhilosopherStoned

You need to travel more.

JOHN

White people tan very easily, only one problem, people with red hair (2.5% of us Brits and Irish) will just burn up and go red in the sunshine. The British on the whole have brown or black hair and very easily tan in the summer sun.

Si Imon

The problem is that when very pale-skinned people are exposed to high UV levels, their melanin production is much slower than the rate at which that UV light is absorbed by their skin. This means they tend to burn and turn pink unless they use sunblock to reduce that UV exposure. But most pale-skinned people would develop a tan over time.

Dragon

Nah... no matter how light or dark you are, you can tan. Unless the sunblock thing, but it will give you a slightly richer skin no matter what. Sometimes the tan is there, but not visible.

R&R

-

jean

white people can tan

Fany

Some people just can’t get a tan, either because they were born with a certain type of skin or they applied too much sunblock

canadacraig

Lots of white people can tan like crazy. It's usually the fair-haired types that just burn.

Nine Lives

Either, white people don't do sun bathing or use tons of sun blocker.

TheDrake

In a word, yes.