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Many of us have encountered individuals who overuse fake tan, leaving their skin resembling a glossy wooden finish. Makeup mistakes often lead people to reflect on their youthful complexions, causing them to flush with embarrassment.
However, some instances of unusual skin tones have more mysterious origins. Explore these 10 historical accounts of individuals with blue, green, or ghostly pale complexions.
10. Carrot Overdose
The belief that consuming carrots enhances night vision originated from the British during World War II. To conceal their radar technology, they propagated the myth that their pilots' improved vision was due to increased carrot intake. This clever ruse not only masked their technological advancement but also boosted carrot consumption. However, excessive indulgence in carrots can lead to unexpected consequences.
Carrots owe their vibrant hue to carotenoids, a group of chemicals also found in various fruits and vegetables. These compounds are essential for human health, aiding in skin protection against sunburn.
However, overconsumption of carotenoid-rich foods can lead to complications. These chemicals accumulate in the skin, altering its color. Excessive carrot consumption, for instance, can result in an orange tint. Since carotenoids are fat-soluble, this condition, known as carotenemia or carotenosis, is most noticeable in areas with higher fat deposits.
Fortunately, resolving this issue is straightforward—simply reduce or eliminate the intake of carotenoid-rich foods. Over time, the skin's natural color will return as the body processes and removes the excess carotenoids.
9. The Canary Girls
While World War II popularized carrot consumption, World War I introduced a unique group of individuals with unusual skin tones. With men deployed to the frontlines, women stepped into factory roles, particularly in munitions plants. Those handling TNT to fill shells earned the nickname 'Canary Girls,' not for their singing but for the bright yellow hue their skin and hair took on due to chemical exposure.
The Canary Girls paid a high price for their patriotic efforts. Beyond the constant threat of explosions, the chemicals they handled caused skin rashes, respiratory issues, and severe nausea.
The yellow tint wasn't limited to the women themselves. Many who gave birth while working in these factories discovered their newborns shared the same vivid coloration. Fortunately, since these infants weren't exposed to the same chemicals, their skin gradually returned to a normal tone over time.
8. Green Children Of Woolpit
During the 12th century in England, villagers harvesting in Woolpit stumbled upon a boy and a girl. While orphans were not uncommon at the time, what made these children extraordinary was their green skin.
The children, who spoke no recognizable language, were found in the wolf pits used for trapping pests, which inspired the village's name. Brought back to the village, they refused all food until fresh beans were offered to them.
Could their intense craving for green beans explain their unusual skin color? This is one of many theories. Another suggests they suffered from anemia due to inadequate diets.
The boy eventually passed away, but the girl survived. Over time, her green hue faded, and she learned to speak English. She shared stories of her origins, describing a place called the 'Land of Saint Martin,' where everyone was green and the sun never shone.
The siblings had strayed into a cave and emerged in a foreign land. Regardless of the mystery behind their skin color, the tale of the Woolpit children has cemented their place in legend.
7. The Blue Fugates
In isolated communities with limited gene pools, intermarriage can lead to the dominance of specific traits, whether it’s blond hair, freckles, or even blue skin. In the Appalachian Mountains, the Fugate family became famous for their strikingly blue complexions.
In the 1800s, French immigrant Martin Fugate married a local woman, and four of their seven children were born with blue skin. Due to intermarriage and some inbreeding, blue-skinned descendants became a common sight in the region. Even in the late 20th century, doctors unfamiliar with the Fugates’ history were alarmed by the blue hue of newborns from this lineage.
The blue skin tone results from a recessive gene causing methaemoglobinaemia, a condition where the blood struggles to transport oxygen efficiently. This darkens the blood, giving the skin a bluish tint. With the introduction of new genes from outsiders, the prevalence of this condition has significantly decreased in recent times.
6. Canthaxanthin
A sun-kissed tan is a highly sought-after fashion statement today. For those unable to achieve it naturally, alternatives like tanning beds, lotions, and even pills are available. Tanning pills, though not approved in the US, often contain a chemical known as canthaxanthin.
Canthaxanthin is chemically similar to the carotenoids found in carrots. It is medically used to reduce skin sensitivity to sunlight and is also employed in the food industry to enhance the color of egg yolks, salmon, and chicken skin. Some individuals, eager for a golden glow, have turned to canthaxanthin for its tanning effects.
Consuming tanning pills delivers high doses of canthaxanthin, which accumulates in the skin. This can result in a yellowish, orange, or even deep brown tint for some individuals.
5. Dermatographic Urticaria
When you rub your skin vigorously, it may temporarily pale as blood is displaced, but the color usually returns quickly. For those with dermatographic urticaria, even a gentle touch can cause the skin to turn pale, raised, and surrounded by redness.
Dermatographism, or 'skin writing,' allows sufferers to create visible marks on their skin with minimal pressure, resulting in itchy welts. Some individuals even use this condition as a unique form of artistic expression. The raised marks typically fade within 30 minutes.
The exact cause of dermatographism remains unclear, but it is believed to involve the release of histamines when the skin is lightly damaged by pressure. While most individuals with this condition don’t require treatment, antihistamines can provide relief. The simplest solution, however, is to avoid touching anything that might trigger a reaction.
4. Gold Poisoning
While many desire as much gold as possible, it’s best kept outside the body. The trend of embellishing food with gold leaf is generally harmless, as metallic gold is biologically inert and passes through the digestive system unchanged. The only noticeable effect might be a sparkling bowel movement.
Gold does have therapeutic applications. Certain gold compounds are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, as they help reduce inflammation, alleviating the pain associated with the condition.
The kidneys and liver work to eliminate most of the gold from the body. However, prolonged exposure can lead to gold deposits in the skin, resulting in a condition known as chrysiasis.
The condition begins with discoloration of the eyes, which may turn brown or purple. In areas exposed to UV light, gold particles accumulate and scatter light, causing a blue-gray hue. While gold therapy is rare today, those who undergo it risk developing a permanent bluish tint.
3. Silver Medicine
While gold can alter skin color, silver takes the prize for dramatic effects. Argyria occurs when silver accumulates in the skin and eyes, giving them a striking blue appearance.
Colloidal silver is currently experiencing a resurgence as an alternative medicine, marketed as a remedy for ailments ranging from cancer to AIDS and herpes. For those seeking a steady supply, machines are available to infuse water with silver at home.
Paul Karason adopted this practice, consuming a daily glass of colloidal silver. His face now boasts a vibrant, healthy, yet strikingly blue hue. Similarly, libertarian politician Stan Jones, fearing a post-Y2K antibiotic shortage, turned to colloidal silver. His blue complexion, however, hasn’t won him many votes.
Despite its well-documented risks and irreversible effects, colloidal silver remains widely accessible in health food stores and online.
2. Sunny Delight
In the late 1990s, Britain was captivated by the orange beverage Sunny Delight, which dominated advertisements across the country. A Christmas ad depicted a snowman turning yellow after drinking the juice, a festive twist that coincided with a young girl being hospitalized for the same yellow hue after consuming Sunny Delight.
The four-year-old girl’s parents had permitted her to drink 1.5 liters (6 cups) of Sunny Delight daily. This excessive intake contained enough beta carotene to turn her skin yellow, similar to the effects of other carotenoids.
While the girl suffered no long-term harm, the brand suffered a significant blow from the news coverage. Despite explanations that the child had consumed an excessive amount and that other foods or drinks could cause the same effect, Sunny Delight never regained its cultural prominence.
1. Elizabethan Skin Whitening
While tans are currently fashionable, often symbolizing a leisurely lifestyle spent on beaches, pale skin was once the height of sophistication, indicating one’s wealth and ability to avoid outdoor labor.
To achieve a ghostly white complexion, individuals applied thick layers of makeup. A popular choice was a cosmetic made from white lead, which, unsurprisingly, came with severe health risks.
The lead in the makeup corroded the skin, causing it to darken. This led to a vicious cycle of applying increasingly toxic layers of white lead to mask the damage caused by previous applications.
The pursuit of beauty through these means resulted in withered skin, tooth decay, and hair loss. Some historians even attribute the death of Queen Elizabeth I, renowned for her deathly pale appearance, to the use of white lead.
