Why are my areolas so light and I'm a black female?

Question

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Areolar color is guided by genetics and hormones. The combination of these two factors will influence the color of the areola. Best, DR. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

The degree of pigmentation on any portion of skin has multiple possible explanations.  Firstly, areola skin color is normally determined by the amount of pigment in one's skin in general, i.e. blonds tend to have pinkish colored areola where dark skin individuals tend to have darker colored areola.  Genetics certainly play a large portion of the determining factor for areola color.  However, skin pigment in general is determined by an amino acid transformation that begins with phenylalanine and ends with melanin.  Any interruptions in this pathway will lead to variations in color, and these are also genetically determined.  So few Americans have only one ancestry.  For instance, in Hawaii, it's not uncommon to know someone who is Chinese/Portuguese/Haole/Hawaiian.  Possibly, your genetic makeup may include more than one racial ancestry.

Why are my areolas so light and I'm a black female?

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Nipple Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Why are my areolas so light and I'm a black female?

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Nipple Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.