# Why Do Old People Have Darker Skin Than Young People? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127 "2005-11-15T05:16:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/1 "2005-11-15T05:16:55Z")
I’ve noticed that older Caucasian people frequently seem to have somewhat darker-colored skin than younger Caucasian people, who tend to be more pale. Why is this often the case? To me this seems counter-intuitive, as younger people tend to sunbathe and spend more of their time outdoors, whereas older people might try to avoid the sun for fear of cancer. So why do many old people look so tan? Is there some sort of cumulative effect to tanning, or is it just that aging makes your skin appear darker?? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/2 "2005-11-15T13:17:10Z")
More years of sun exposure overall? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/3 "2005-11-15T15:18:55Z")
So people can tell which Caucasian person is older and which is younger. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/4 "2005-11-15T15:21:31Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > So people can tell which Caucasian person is older and which is younger. Kind of like tree rings? or the rings on fish scales? **Looks at hands** Damn, it works! ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/5 "2005-11-15T16:07:25Z")
I dunno, but I think people’s hair gets darker as you age too. Adults never have that platinum-blond hair that some blond kids have. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/6 "2005-11-15T18:13:33Z")
I dunno, but I’ve seen plenty of old white ladies (primarily ladies) with white white white skin that is nearly transparent - veins prominent in the head and neck, etc… george ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/7 "2005-11-15T18:44:09Z")
Sun damage. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/8 "2005-11-15T19:55:19Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > Adults never have that platinum-blond hair that some blond kids have. Mayble ALMOST never but I do know a woman with teen children and naturally white-blonde hair. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/9 "2005-11-15T20:02:01Z")
It’s accumulated sun damage. The little old ladies with pale skin are those who didn’t go out in the sun much. Remember, at one time it was considered a signifier of class to NOT be suntanned, since it meant you did not have to go to work. Now, of course, it’s more the other way around. Ladies used to never go outdoors in the sun without a hat or bonnet to shield their delicate complexions. You’ll probably notice that these ladies have far fewer wrinkles for their age, too. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/10 "2005-11-17T17:29:12Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > I dunno, but I think people’s hair gets darker as you age too. Adults never have that platinum-blond hair that some blond kids have. Gray hair is darker? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-have-darker-skin-than-young-people/331127/11 "2005-11-17T17:43:23Z")
It’s accumilated sun exposure - my mother’s legs are the nearest to marble white you’re ever likely to see but then of course you’re not likely to see them, no one ever does, least of all the sun. Hands, upper chest/neck and face all show signs of sun damage over time (never a sun bather these areas are naturally exposed) her legs are as white as the day she was born. She’s in her seventies for what it’s worth.