Mosca Sarah, Morrone Aldo
Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy.
Scientific Direction, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Jul 22;11(14):2091. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11142091.
Skin pigmentation is the most variable human characteristic that can be observed and has been used throughout history to classify humans into distinct groups. Many factors influence skin colour, but the melanin pigment is considered the most important because its type and quantity can determine variations in pigmentation shades. The evolution of skin pigmentation started around 1.6-2 million years ago. As a result of migratory phenomena to places with less ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and other seasonal regimes, the selection of depigmented skin and different tanning capabilities occurred over time. Thus, genetic adaptation to new environmental conditions gradually led to changes in skin pigmentation. Despite the biological importance of pigmentation, variation in skin colour has led to social and health inequalities. Since Linnaeus, skin colour classifications have been used to describe different human groups, encouraging the misuse of a biological characteristic. This review examines the characterisation of pigmentation and its evolution through history and society. The unequal perception of pigmentation diversity has led to an incomplete state of dermatological training and issues in medical approach in dermatology. The consciousness of all these aspects increases the need to address and overcome dermatologic and social health disparities related to skin pigmentation.
皮肤色素沉着是人类最具变异性的可观察特征，在历史上一直被用于将人类划分为不同群体。许多因素影响肤色，但黑色素被认为是最重要的，因为其类型和数量可以决定色素沉着深浅的变化。皮肤色素沉着的演变始于约160万至200万年前。由于迁移到紫外线辐射（UVR）较少的地方以及其他季节性环境，随着时间的推移，出现了对浅色皮肤和不同晒黑能力的选择。因此，对新环境条件的基因适应逐渐导致了皮肤色素沉着的变化。尽管色素沉着具有生物学重要性，但肤色差异却导致了社会和健康不平等。自林奈时代以来，肤色分类一直被用于描述不同的人类群体，这助长了对一种生物学特征的滥用。本综述探讨了色素沉着的特征及其在历史和社会中的演变。对色素沉着多样性的不平等认知导致了皮肤科培训的不完整状态以及皮肤科医疗方法中的问题。对所有这些方面的认识增加了应对和克服与皮肤色素沉着相关的皮肤病学和社会健康差距的必要性。
