Olive skin is a
human skin colour
Human skin color ranges from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. Differences in skin color among individuals is caused by variation in pigmentation, which is the result of genetics (inherited from one's biological parents and or indiv ...
spectrum. It is often associated with pigmentation in the Type III
to Type IV and Type V ranges of the
Fitzpatrick scale.
It generally refers to light or moderate
tan skin, and it is often described as having yellow, green, or golden undertones.
People with olive skin can sometimes become paler if their
sun exposure is limited. However, lighter olive skin still
tans more easily than
light skin does, and generally still retains notable yellow or greenish undertones.
Geographic distribution
Type III pigmentation is frequent among populations from the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
(i.e. Southern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa) as well as some parts of
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...
and Asia.
It ranges from cream
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...
to darker olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ' ...
[ skin tones.][; unde]
Tables - Fitzpatrick Skin Type Classification Scale
/ref> This skin type sometimes burns and tans gradually, but always tans.[
Type IV pigmentation is frequent among some populations from the ]Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
, Romani people
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic Itinerant groups in Europe, itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have Ro ...
, as well as parts of Asia and Latin America. It ranges from brownish or darker olive[ to moderate brown, typical Mediterranean skin tones.] This skin type rarely burns and tans easily.[
Type V pigmentation is frequent among populations from the ]Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
,[ parts of the Mediterranean and Southern Europe,] Romani people
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic Itinerant groups in Europe, itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have Ro ...
, parts of Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, Latin America,[ and the ]South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...
n subcontinent. It ranges from olive[ to tan, Middle Eastern skin tones.][ This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.][
]
See also
* Bronze (racial classification)
* Brown (racial classification)
* Human skin color
Human skin color ranges from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. Differences in skin color among individuals is caused by variation in pigmentation, which is the result of genetics (inherited from one's biological parents and or indiv ...
* Mediterranean race
References
{{Skin colors
Mediterranean
Skin pigmentation