# Is this possible? Changing your skin color. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828 "2018-04-04T19:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/1 "2018-04-04T19:50:47Z")
There’s a big bust star named Martina Big (Search at your own peril) who claims she changed her skin color from peach to brown using chemical treatments. Is this possible? Or is she just using a really dark spray on tan like product? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/2 "2018-04-04T19:58:10Z")
Isn’t a dark spray tan a chemical treatment? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/3 "2018-04-04T20:03:53Z")
Famously, the white journalist John Howard Griffin darkened his skin color by taking methoxsalen plus spending time under UV lamps in order to see first hand what it was like to be a black person in the South in the 1950s. The book [_Black Like Me_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Like_Me) was the result. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/4 "2018-04-04T20:06:05Z")
Years ago, a white author did this to investigate and experience racial prejudice from the inside. > [@](#): > > Black Like Me, first published in 1961, is a nonfiction book by white journalist John Howard Griffin recounting his journey in the Deep South of the United States, at a time when African-Americans lived under Racial Segregation. Griffin was a native of Dallas, Texas, who had his skin temporarily darkened to pass as a black man. > [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Like_Me) There was a rumor that Griffin ultimately died because of the treatments he received to darken his skin. Not true. Other interesting facts about Griffin’s life and experience can be found [here](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dead-like-me/). From that link, re the skin-darkening treatment itself: > [@](#): > > Under the direction of a New Orleans dermatologist, Griffin had taken medication orally and had exposed his entire body to the ultraviolet rays of a sun lamp. For about a week, up to fifteen hours each day, he had stretched out on a couch under the glare of the lamp. His eyes had been protected by cotton pads when he faced the lamp, and he had worn sunglasses when turned away from its rays. > > The doctor had prescribed Oxsoralen — a drug used to treat vitiligo, a cutaneous infection most common among but not exclusive to black people, which produces white splotches on the skin. Typically the medication is given over a period of six to twelve weeks. However, Griffin’s experiment necessitated an accelerated pace. By taking larger than normal doses of the drug along with extended exposure under the lamp, the slow darkening process was intensified. > > Despite the serious health hazards, the doctor agreed to the acceleration but monitored the experiment with regular blood tests that charted any damage to the liver. None of the blood tests indicated liver damage from the Oxsoralen and, except for lassitude and extreme nausea, Griffin experienced no lasting ill-effects. > … That’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/5 "2018-04-04T20:41:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Famously, the white journalist John Howard Griffin darkened his skin color by taking methoxsalen plus spending time under UV lamps in order to see first hand what it was like to be a black person in the South in the 1950s. The book [_Black Like Me_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Like_Me) was the result. That is so 1950s. These days we do [a reality show.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black._White.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/6 "2018-04-04T21:32:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That is so 1950s. These days we do [a reality show.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black._White.) Of course, that was through makeup rather than medication, and so not pertinent to the OP. [There are quite a few drugs that can result in skin darkening.](https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/drug-induced-skin-pigmentation) Whether any of them would be safe enough and produce an even enough tone to be used by the person mentioned in the OP I couldn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/7 "2018-04-05T03:14:55Z")
There was an actually rather interesting TV program on British television about ten years ago where a black man was transformed into a white man by make-up artists and vice versa to experience what it was like being a different race in society. I do recall that it was a lot easier to darken the skin of the white man than to lighten the skin of the black man, to the extent that for the former they somehow dyed his skin and for the latter they had to use something more akin to a latex mask and coverings. The effects were pretty convincing though, to the extent that in one segment while talking to ‘other black people’ who _knew_ he was only made up to appear black one woman still forgot and asked him “Where did the colour come from?” _(what was his ancestry)_. There was a bit of an awkward pause before she realised, to everyone’s amusement. Its too late in the morning and I’m too tired to google it, but if you’re interested I may be able to have a look tomorrow. I’ve already tried but I’m worried that with the results I’m currently getting I may end up on some government list somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/8 "2018-04-05T15:56:34Z")
I don’t know a lot, but I wouldn’t expect such changes to be permanent, since you’re constantly making more skins. But, looking at [her pics](https://www.google.com/search?q=Martina+Bigtbm=isch), her skin color does indeed look artificial, like a spray tan or similar. I could see her being someone who keeps that up. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/9 "2018-04-05T16:28:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Years ago, a white author did this to investigate and experience racial prejudice from the inside. There was a rumor that Griffin ultimately died because of the treatments he received to darken his skin. Not true. Other interesting facts about Griffin’s life and experience can be found [here](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dead-like-me/). From that link, re the skin-darkening treatment itself: > That’s all I got. That’s interesting. My knowledge of _Black Like Me_ pretty much begins and ends with [that episode of _WKRP_](https://youtu.be/iDRlFtx0g0M?t=1443), and I had always assumed that the journalist dyed himself like Herb Tarleck. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/10 "2018-04-05T17:18:27Z")
Two things, both gross: A YouTube clip keeps popping up on my phone featuring some blond-ish woman who hit the tanning booths too hard and looks like a Tootsie-roll in a wig. If you overdose on beta-carotene (?) you could turn orange; apparently popular with the Swedes. Cecil had a column on this eons ago. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/11 "2018-04-07T17:55:25Z")
Melvin Van Peebles’ [_Watermelon Man_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(film)) starring Godfrey Cambridge explores the notion of a white man waking up turned black one morning. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/12 "2018-04-07T22:26:07Z")
You can also turn blue from drinking silver (or for a variety of reasons). I’ve read that The Blue Man reported that being blue was kind of like being invisible: nobody knew what the expected behavior of a blue man was, or what the expected response to a blue man is, so he could do anything. (I know that black Americans have reported something similar in some contexts). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/13 "2018-04-07T22:41:43Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’ve read that The Blue Man reported that being blue was kind of like being invisible: nobody knew what the expected behavior of a blue man was, or what the expected response to a blue man is, so he could do anything. (I know that black Americans have reported something similar in some contexts). I remember seeing that guy on TV. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHe_BVY_9c) is a clip that I found. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/14 "2018-04-08T13:04:54Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > You can also turn blue from drinking silver (or for a variety of reasons). [Argyria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyria) is what it’s called. Gold salts can also inflict a similar condition called [chrysiasis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysiasis). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/15 "2018-04-08T13:59:30Z")
The vitiligo on my knees was a real pain; I kept getting sunburned knees while kayaking. I had a tattoo artist tattoo my knees (very difficult area to tattoo) a light skin tone. Now my knees just look like knees, but they no longer burn. I’ve considered a similar approach for the backs of my hands, but ouch. (ETA: easier to just wear kayaking gloves) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/16 "2018-04-08T14:09:29Z")
Fyi, “black like me” is a really good book, and I recommend it if you haven’t read it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-possible-changing-your-skin-color/811828/17 "2018-04-09T06:45:35Z")
Grace Halsell, investigative journalist, also did a Griffin and wrote a book about it, [Soul Sister: The Journal of a White Woman Who Turned Herself Black and Went to Live and Work in Harlem and Mississippi](http://dlib.nyu.edu/undercover/grace-halsell).