Grrr...pale and unhealthy-looking. :(

[Cassiel]

Ok, when people who don't know me that well start to say something about me looking pale, I start to listen. This afternoon my priest actually said I looked anemic. I very well could be - I have been borderline anemic many times. But his comment was only one of several I've had over the last year or so. I'm vegan, I run a lot, and I think I eat healthily - I'm not underweight by any means, though a lot of people think I look pretty skinny (I guess I carry it well, thanks to the running, but I actually weigh about 150 lbs and I'm only 5'7 and female). I eat a lot of whole foods - fruits, veggies, whole grains (though only 1-3 servings a day), beans and soy. I usually eat more nuts than I probably should and I actually stay away from nut butters because I completely make myself sick on them, I love 'em so much. I admit I probably don't take a multivitamin as often as I should. But I thought I'd be healthier as a vegan! I actually feel better but it's been years since I ate meat so maybe I just don't remember... I actually went home and had a piece of fish for dinner since that is what I was making for my dad, but I don't know how much that could help (too soon to tell anyway, I'm sure). Suggestions?

[LovelyPerv]

You may want to check, and make sure you're not actually anemic...

But, I've been pale and washed out looking MY WHOLE LIFE!!!! Seriously, my skin looks like that of a cave-dwelling amphibian.

Anyways, I went Veg mid-November... I naturally become a little more transparent in the winter, but people here are already commenting on how pale I look.

People telling me I'm too pale is nothing new, but people are debating my Veganism and telling me that it's the cause (like a steak would suddenly turn me into a bronze goddess).

In a few months, I'm visiting family members, including my parents, that I haven't seen in a year or more...and I'm hitting some tanning booths to prep, just so I won't spend my whole vacation debating the color of my skin.

Anyways, my point is, some people are naturally pale (I've never needed to buy white gothic make-up...), but if you're veg'n people are going to point it out to you even more, and tell you that you look unhealthy.

Before I went veg, I just got laughed at..."Wow...get out in the sun...ha-ha!" and "OW...my eyes!!!...You're reflecting too much light!!! Ha-ha!!!" and now it's changed to "Whoa...you look like you need more iron...are you getting enough protein?...sigh...poor thing..."

[Byzantea]

One word: melanoma.

[busy91]

Could it possibly be...
The color of your skin? *sarcasm*

So if you are not plump and tanned something is wrong with you?

People kill me. :whack:

[Cassiel]

Eh, even I'll admit I look a little sickly at times. Which is probably why when other people mention it, I buy it. He also is aware that I've been on the verge of an ED before, so he's probably looking more closely. I know you can be a healthy vegan - lots of my friends look great. But I also know our bodies are all different and sometimes I wonder if I can be a healthy vegan.

[rabid_child]

I'm very pale with dark circles under my eyes all the time. I am not anemic. This is just how I look. I hate it when people tell me how awful I look because of it, because in essence, they're just saying I'm ugly, which really isn't too polite.

It's winter, everything is more grey in the winter, imo. If you're concerned about your health, go to your doctor and have your blood checked. Taking a daily multi isn't a bad idea either.

[Gwendolyn]

I love pale skin. I think it's so beautiful. I also have really light skin, and I love my complexion. So, you don't have to be tan or darker complected to be healthy. I'd say your fine as you are, and if you feel good, don't worry about what others say.

[Byzantea]

The dark circles might be cleared up by playing less WoW. Zing! (I'm a recovering MMO player, too)

[rabid_child]

The dark circles might be cleared up by playing less WoW. Zing! (I'm a recovering MMO player, too)

Hm.. interesting suggestion except that I've had them my whole life, and considering I'm a full time PhD student with a research assistantship, I don't actually play that much.

[lefty2026]

Wear lots of black and eyeliner and people will all of a sudden think your pale skin is sexy.

Anyway I think creamy white skin is beautiful and very healthy looking. Much better than looking like brown leather.

Plus my dad had skin cancer (and still has to be treated sometimes), so I'm pretty well aware that tans are far from healthy.

[fadeaway1289]

I've always been extremely pale also. I also get comments about it all the time especially when people find out I'm Italian. I hate the sun and have never gone tanning so in the summer I'm as white as a ghost still.

[cftwo]

Another pale skinned person with dark circles checking in. It might be good to have a doctor run some blood tests just to make sure everything is all right. I'd do that before I concluded that I should eat meat or go to a tanning booth.

[kpickell]

If you're running a lot those online body fat calculators could be underreporting your desired weight since you have more muscle than most. Check with a doctor who is familiar with nutrition.

[synergy]

I have a similar issue with the pale skin, since I try to stay out of the sun/wear sunscreen.

My solution: a little bronzer that I put into my moisturizer. It takes about 1 second every morning and I don't have to hear people asking me "Are you feeling ok?" all winter.

[Brandon]

I'm very pale with dark circles under my eyes all the time. I am not anemic. This is just how I look. I hate it when people tell me how awful I look because of it, because in essence, they're just saying I'm ugly, which really isn't too polite.

It's winter, everything is more grey in the winter, imo. If you're concerned about your health, go to your doctor and have your blood checked. Taking a daily multi isn't a bad idea either.

FTR, you are anything but ugly! :)

Sorry to be OT.

[ksfc]

My nickname as a child was Casper. I've had all the comments about glowing in the dark and everything else the other pale-skinned posters before me have said - from friends and strangers. I did a make-up/spa session last year and the makeup artist couldn't believe my skin. She told me in disbelief that I was the only person in more than 10 years in the business that she'd ever had to use her lightest shade on.

If you feel healthy - have lots of energy, feel good - then you probably are. Pale skin is sometimes just the color skin you're born with ! Dark circles can be genetic and/or they can just indicate that you're tired and stressed and need to make sure you get a little more R&R.

Other than being pale, is there anything else that would indicate there might be something wrong? If not, just ignore the comments.

[Animosity]

I've never got why people just automatically assume pale skined people are sickly...
I have quite pale skin (to the point that I have to actually use 'dead white' concealers)
It's not that i'm unhealthy, I'm just white. The only thing that makes me look unhealthy is the dark circles under my eyes and the pinkish tint that I get around my eyelids.
Don't feel the need to run out and get a tan or put on 10 pounds, If you're really worried go to the doctor and get some tests done.

[Bells]

Are you getting enough sun? If you aren't able to get much sun then try indoor tanning.

Bad advice. Please, whatever you do, do not do this. The "tans" look horrible, and they are horrible for you.

I tan easily and I've only been sunburnt twice in my life, but I become very pale in the winter. I just wear a tinted foundation to give my face a little color, and no one asks questions or makes comments.

[hoodedclawjen]

there is no such thing as a safe tan. any sun or sunbed induced change in your skin colour is due to your body producing melanin to protect its damaged skin from from further damage:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning/risks.html#2

eta: you could always get one of those spray on tans, i suppose- i have no idea why anyone would want to pay out money to make themselves look orange though. i personally relish my pastiness- makes me special :)

[Bells]

I've seen indoor tans and they look fine, just like regular ones. Going a little bit won't hurt her, i was only suggesting it, so she could get a little bit of color. Nothin wrong with getting a little bit of sun either. It's all about moderation.

Since i disagree with you i guess i could say your advice was bad too, eh? ;) lol

Any suntan, really, is a sign of sun damage. A little is fine, but not enough to tan. My problem with tanning is that I can put on all the sunscreen I want and I will still tan.

Plus, tanning beds can damage one's eyes. It can cause photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis, and long-term use is linked to the development of cataracts.

You could say my advice was bad, but at least I was not advocating anything that could potentially affect her health.

[Hang~Ten~Honey]

I'm another member of the 'pale and proud' club. Actually, when I was a little kid, I would get tan in the summer from being outside, so I know that I can tan but I don't spend much time in the sun and am quite pale now. I also have circulation problems so when I am cold I get really white-blue-ish, which is kinda freaky. But I have been pale much longer than I have been veg*n. And really, I've had more people complement my skintone (and how soft my skin is) than complain about it. If someone wants to call me ugly because I am pale, that's fine, but just don't try blaming it on my veganism. :p

The obsession that our society has with tanning is really weird. Tanning beds are very dangerous and unhealthy. I have a few friends who've had skin cancer scares (cancerous moles, etc.) who were tanning-addicts when we were teens (and we're only in our mid-twenties now!). The best thing you can do for your skin is to stay out of direct sunlight and keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. Having that 'healthy glow' doesn't have anything to do with the color of your skin.

[Pixelle]

Bells, i don't mean to sound insulting, but i'm wondering if you live in a plastic bubble (metaphorically speaking of course) ? Do you not do things like sky diving because of the potential health risk? Live a little ;), living longer doesn't always mean better, gotta enjoy life somewhat. Modddddderation.

There is a difference between sky-diving and tanning though Spirittap. Even though there is always the risk you could kill yourself with sky-diving in a single jump, it is possible to do it safely. But you cannot ever tan safely.

Every time you expose your skin to damaging UV rays either out in the sun or in a tanning salon, you are accumulating damage that will not repair itself.

This is a pretty common type of carcinoma that Australians often get later in life

When I was a nurse I saw a lot of these. Some men who are balding can end up with the entire top of their head covered in them, and that can be just from not wearing a hat when they went out in the sun.

[LovelyPerv]

I had no idea the sun was that harmful!!!
I shall mummify myself in gauze for protection...and stay indoors for the rest of my life!

Anyways, as for myself, I do still plan to go to a tanning bed before visiting the family.

I work the night shift, and I keep my windows blocked off so the sun won't interfere with my sleep. My skin hasn't seen a single ray of sunshine since September, and even then it was only for 10 mins a day.

The way I see it, I'm well ahead of the game... And, getting a light tan will reduce my chances of burning to a blistery crisp when I'm out and about during the day with my folks...which, I'm sure you know, a blistery burn is far more damaging than a tan.

[VibrantSunrise]

OMG. Please, don't EVER post grotesque pictures like that again without a warning. I almost threw up dinner (no joke).

[Hang~Ten~Honey]

The majority of us are exposed to the sun and do not end up like the picture above.

Being "exposed to the sun" and purposeful tanning are not one in the same. :wall: Going for a walk on a warm, sunny day is much less harmful than lying in direct sunlight for hours at a time in order to 'tan'.