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Norwegian women, like many people in the Nordic regions, have light skin due to a combination of evolutionary adaptations, genetic and environmental factors.
The lighter skin tone among many Norwegian women and men is the result of genetic and evolutionary factors that have shaped the characteristics of populations in regions of northern Europe over thousands of years.
The swaying anatomies abound all around us, the streets of Norway are a real feast for the eyes.
In northern Europe, long, dark winters mean that there is less sunlight available. Lighter skin allows for greater absorption of ultraviolet rays, which are essential for the production of vitamin D.
Over thousands of years, people with lighter skin tones were better able to adapt to these conditions, making this trait more common in the region through natural selection.
Pigmentation-related genes, such as MC1R, are more common in populations from northern Europe and are associated with fair skin, blond hair and light eyes.
These characteristics have been passed down through the generations due to the relative genetic homogeneity in these regions.
Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, was historically isolated by its geography. This limited genetic diversity and reinforced the characteristics of local populations.
The cold climate and local culture promote the use of clothing that protects the skin from the sun, which reduces exposure to natural tanning. In addition, modern skin care practices in many cases seek to maintain an even tone and prevent sun damage.
In cities such as Tromsø or Hammerfest, there is a period between late November and mid-January where the sun does not rise at all. This phenomenon is called polar night. Although there is no direct sun, there is usually a "polar twilight" with some indirect light for a few hours a day.
Between late May and mid-July, the sun does not set. This means constant sunlight for weeks. But overall, in cities like Tromsø, there are about 70 to 90 completely sunny days a year.
Much of the year is punctuated by cloudy, rainy or snowy days, which reduces the number of days with direct sun.
People in Norway value the sun very much and celebrate its return in January, organizing festivals such as Solfest in Tromsø. During the polar night months, they use indoor lighting, daylight lamps and vitamin D supplements to compensate for the lack of sun.
The MC1R gene, Melanocortin Receptor 1, is a fascinating gene that plays an important role in determining skin, hair and eye colour in humans, as well as having other biological functions.
MC1R regulates the production of two types of melanin in melanocytes: Eumelanin: Responsible for dark tones, such as brown or black hair. Pheomelanin: Responsible for light, reddish tones, such as red hair and fair skin.
When MC1R is active, it produces more eumelanin and protection against UV radiation. When it is less active or mutated, it produces more pheomelanin, which offers less protection against UV rays.
MC1R variants are common in people of European descent, especially from Northern Europe. Some variants are associated with features such as red hair – over 90% of red-haired people have mutations in MC1R.
Fair skin has a high sensitivity to the sun – less eumelanin means a higher propensity for sunburn.
People with MC1R variants have a higher risk of developing melanoma due to less UV protection. Some studies suggest that people with red hair have a slightly different perception of pain, possibly due to interactions between MC1R and other receptors in the body.
Lastly, MC1R doesn’t just influence humans. It also affects coloration in animals such as horses, mice, and birds. For example, variants of MC1R determine the coat of horses and the plumage of certain birds.
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