Skin tone vs skin color: What's the difference?

Which term tells you what?

What gives skin its color?

Melanocytes, the pigment making cells in skin, produce melanin. The amount and type of melanin are the main factors determining whether skin looks lighter or darker. Eumelanin contributes brown or black coloring; pheomelanin contributes yellow or red coloring. The balance between them helps determine your natural shade.16

Inherited genes strongly influence skin color. Melanin is not the only contributor: hemoglobin in blood near the skin's surface also affects visible color, while dietary carotenoids contribute to a lesser degree. Different parts of the same person's body can naturally have different coloring because pigment production varies by body site.1

Can skin tone or color change?

Yes. Your natural coloring has a genetic basis, but your visible shade can change. Sun exposure increases melanin production and can cause tanning, freckles and brown spots. Hormones and some medicines can also affect pigmentation. A change can involve a small patch or much more of the skin, rather than changing every area equally.124

Hyperpigmentation means increased pigmentation, making skin darker. Hypopigmentation means reduced pigmentation, making skin lighter. Both can follow skin inflammation. Melasma causes patches darker than the surrounding natural skin tone, usually on the face, and often begins during pregnancy or after starting birth control pills. A new patch is a change relative to your usual color, not simply another name for your natural shade.346

Is skin tone the same as skin phototype?

No. Fitzpatrick skin phototype classifies skin by its reaction to sunlight, particularly burning and tanning. Natural color and melanin contribute to that classification, but shade alone is not the whole description. Phototype describes sun response rather than just color, giving skincare's already busy word 'type' another job.5

Lighter skin generally burns more easily and tans less readily; darker skin generally burns less and tans more readily. Darker skin is also more prone to brown marks after injury or inflammation. Some diseases and medicines increase sun sensitivity, so your usual shade does not explain every change in how your skin reacts outdoors.5

What should you do about a color change?

Do not choose a pigment treatment just because an area looks lighter or darker. The cause determines the treatment. A light spot after a rash or wound can regain pigment, with some darkening noticeable within a few weeks. Seek a dermatologist if light spots spread, worsen or show no change after a few weeks. Persistent, unexplained darkening or lightening also needs assessment.67

Protect changing areas from excessive sun exposure and use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. For light patches outdoors, choose broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Have any sore or lesion that changes shape, size or color checked by a healthcare professional.67