By Wayne Chan
My wife Maya and I have two completely different reactions to being out in the sun.
On a cool, clear day, I love nothing more than to go outside, t-shirt and shorts, take in all the fresh air, and feel the sun on my face. Maya, on the other hand, has a different approach.
She’s completely covered, from head to toe, she wears a huge, floppy hat that looks a bit like a giant portobello mushroom on her head, and she’s slathered in sunscreen.
It’s a little bewildering to me because I’ve always suspected that as an Asian, we have a bit more protection against damage from the sun. And looking it up, studies do show that Asians and generally, all darker skinned populations have more melatonin, which helps protect the skin from the UV rays from the sun.
That would explain why in my entire life, despite spending a lot of time outdoors, I’ve only gotten sunburnt one time, and that was when I took a summer job at the beach as a lifeguard and I’d spend five days a week out in the sun wearing only swim trunks and a baseball cap.
That would also explain why many of my non-Asian friends get together, they will inevitably talk about their recent visit to the dermatologist and how they needed to have some skin removed due to sun damage.
Of course, on hearing about their doctor’s visits and coping with sun damage, they can reliably expect me to say something like, “Guys, you should really try being Asian”. And yes, I know that I’m bragging about a situation that I can take no credit for, but I think it’s funny nevertheless.
Now, I’m the first to say that everyone who spends a lot of time outdoors ought to take proper precautions in protecting their skin, which includes generous use of sunscreen and protective clothing. But I also take some comfort that I’m naturally a bit more protected than most.
So, it’s a little perplexing that in Asian culture, particularly with women, they tend to avoid sunlight if possible, as evidenced by my Asian wife consistently wearing clothing that occasionally makes her look like a walking burrito. May I also add (in case she reads this column) that she is the most beautiful walking burrito that I’ve ever met and I’m truly lucky to be with her.
When I’ve asked about this conundrum, I’ve been told that while it is certainly true that your skin ages faster with a lot of exposure to sunlight, there’s also a perception that a lighter complexion is actually more desirable.
That’s perfectly fine with me, but it doesn’t explain how on the occasions when someone compliments me in a particular picture, it’s usually one where I’ve been in the sun a lot and they often follow it up with “You look Hawaiian!”.
Or maybe it’s just because I tend to wear a lot of Hawaiian shirts?
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