Skin Change?

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

In certain light, sunlight for instance, my skin becomes almost Ghostly pale. But in other light, my skin becomes almost tannish. Is there a scientific reason for this? Is my skin absorbing the light types it is around?

 

[D.A. Wright]

You're absolutely right. Well, except that technically speaking your skin is also (and some would say merely) reflecting the light around it.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi @Coleton Bryce Ritmanich, I think the difference you're seeing is due in large part to the color temperature and quality of the light that's reflecting off of your skin. For instance, most things (including us) look pretty different under daylight (blueish light that registers between 5000K and 6500K) when compared to how we look under indoor light bulbs (a far more yellowish light that comes in around 3200K .. Kelvin, that is).

--David

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

You're absolutely right. Well, except that technically speaking your skin is also (and some would say merely) reflecting the light around it.

So, I am like something that causes a rainbow? I'm interested. How exactly does that work?

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Hi @Coleton Bryce Ritmanich, I think the difference you're seeing is due in large part to the color temperature and quality of the light that's reflecting off of your skin. For instance, most things (including us) look pretty different under daylight (blueish light that registers between 5000K and 6500K) when compared to how we look under indoor light bulbs (a far more yellowish light that comes in around 3200K .. Kelvin, that is).

--David

Wow! That's cool! This is why I love science!

 

[Occams Barber]

In certain light, sunlight for instance, my skin becomes almost Ghostly pale. But in other light, my skin becomes almost tannish. Is there a scientific reason for this? Is my skin absorbing the light types it is around?

You may be a Lizard Person.

I would advise a check with your local health professional.

OB​

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

You may be a Lizard Person.

I would advise a check with your local health professional.

OB​

Lol! That would be funny! But I'll ask my doctor the next time I have an appointment.

 

[Kylie]

The human eye is very adaptable and is so good at adapting that we don't even realise that it's happening. But there are situations where it can be fooled. Your skin will take on aspects of whatever light falls on it. If you shine blue light on your skin, you skin will appear blue, for example. A similar thing is happening with what you've noticed. The same thing explains why some people think their eyes change colour. It's not really changing, it's just different lighting conditions fooling the eyes and brain.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

The human eye is very adaptable and is so good at adapting that we don't even realise that it's happening. But there are situations where it can be fooled. Your skin will take on aspects of whatever light falls on it. If you shine blue light on your skin, you skin will appear blue, for example. A similar thing is happening with what you've noticed. The same thing explains why some people think their eyes change colour. It's not really changing, it's just different lighting conditions fooling the eyes and brain.

Thanks for the elaboration!

 

[Kylie]

Thanks for the elaboration!

Remember that picture a while back of the dress and people couldn't agree if it was blue and white or black and gold (or whatever)? It's the same basic thing as that.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Remember that picture a while back of the dress and people couldn't agree if it was blue and white or black and gold (or whatever)? It's the same basic thing as that.

Really? That is interesting!

 

[Ophiolite]

Really? That is interesting!

Thus, the dress.
Slightly different, the checker-board.
Or just search optical illusions.

We don't see what is there, we perceive what is there, an act of interpretation.

 

[Chesterton]

Maybe you suffer from racial dysphoria.