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E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Korea sparkling
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking masks |
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Everyday I walk across at least 10 difference ajumma's in my area that wear these demented face masks. The question is why? Is the sun's rays that much more harmful in Korea? Is getting a tan really looked down upon here? |
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Snake Doctor
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Acid sunshine  |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking mask |
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E_athlete wrote: |
Everyday I walk across at least 10 difference ajumma's in my area that wear these demented face masks. The question is why? Is the sun's rays that much more harmful in Korea? Is getting a tan really looked down upon here? |
"Looked down upon" may be too strong of a description, but a tan is certainly not considered a "good thing" either.
And for good reason, too. The sun is not good for the skin, and scientists say there is no such thing as a "healthy tan". The women here are smart enough to know it causes premature aging. Coming from Florida and being out in the sun all of my life, that was hard for me to admit. But I know too many sunbathers who got skin cancer later in life.
I am not a big fan of the visors either, but I kind of like the custom of women walking around with sun umbrellas. It makes me feel like I have been transported back to some bygone era. |
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thoreau
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking mask |
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<<<deleted>>>
Last edited by thoreau on Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Emeliu
Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Location: Korea, i'm OMW
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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I agree, I don't like tanned women, whiter the better! |
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Koveras
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Koreans, men and women, want light skin. But why do all ajummas have the same haircut? At the airport I saw a group of thirty or forty and literally every one of them had that haircut. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, in the USA circa 1800's to have a tan usually meant one was a common field hand or laborer. In modern times it changed to mean one lived a life of leisure.
Damn, I am starting to sound like Cliff Claven from 'Cheers". |
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Bucky
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Vancouver (formerly Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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What's scary is when you see people DRIVING with them on (which is common in my Asian-dominated hometown in BC). I know they can still see and stuff, but it's scary nonetheless. |
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Bailsibub
Joined: 22 Dec 2006
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Those are welding masks. Now they just need some thick leather gloves and a matching apron. |
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crossmr

Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Everyday I walk across at least 10 difference ajumma's in my area that wear these demented face masks. The question is why? Is the sun's rays that much more harmful in Korea? Is getting a tan really looked down upon here? |
The same reason the younger ones use umbrellas. There is a reason asian women's skin is different than western women. They take better care of it. Most of my female friends back home rarely even put on sunscreen unless it is really scorching out. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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At least their hair isn't purple like old Japanese women  |
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Toffenheim
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking mask |
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Sector7G wrote: |
The sun is not good for the skin |
From wikipedia:
"Deficiency of vitamin D can result from a number of factors including: inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight (UVB) exposure"
In addition to osteoporosis and rickets, Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a bunch of health problems.
"Vitamin D malnutrition may also be linked to an increased susceptibility to several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder [32][33], peripheral artery disease[34], cognitive impairment which includes memory loss and foggy brain,[35] and several autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes (see role in immunomodulation).[8][21] There is an association between low vitamin D levels and Parkinson's disease, but whether Parkinson's causes low vitamin D levels, or whether low vitamin D levels play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease has not been established.[36]".
Of course you have the option to take supplements but where's the fun in that. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking mask |
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Toffenheim wrote: |
Sector7G wrote: |
The sun is not good for the skin |
From wikipedia:
"Deficiency of vitamin D can result from a number of factors including: inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight (UVB) exposure"
In addition to osteoporosis and rickets, Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a bunch of health problems.
"Vitamin D malnutrition may also be linked to an increased susceptibility to several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder [32][33], peripheral artery disease[34], cognitive impairment which includes memory loss and foggy brain,[35] and several autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes (see role in immunomodulation).[8][21] There is an association between low vitamin D levels and Parkinson's disease, but whether Parkinson's causes low vitamin D levels, or whether low vitamin D levels play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease has not been established.[36]".
Of course you have the option to take supplements but where's the fun in that. |
Okay, point taken. I should have said too much sun is bad for the skin. But I concede there are benefits to be had if one gets their sun in moderation. I just don't think it requires much exposure at all to do that.
I still see plenty of leather-skinned older people walking around Florida. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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In Asian cultures, having brown (or darker skin) means that you are poor. You are, in effect, a labourer who has to work outside. Your skin color marks your social ranking.
Confucians take this to the extreme - hence all their face masks, visors, face shields etc. They don't want others to think that they are poor - or that they are from lower ranked SE Asian countries.
Also, even darker skinned Asians (SE Asians), will do anything to prevent themselves getting darker in the sun. Skin Whitening Creme is a big seller all over Asia.
Skin cancer is widespread in my family (I've already had one operation to remove a cancer). So, when I'm fishing for hours in the sun - I'm covered with hats, face masks, gloves etc.
However, I still don't feel healthy unless I'm tanned. How dumb is that? Roll on Thailand in October. |
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jdog2050

Joined: 17 Dec 2006
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: Middle-aged Korean women wearing those sun blocking mask |
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Sector7G wrote: |
E_athlete wrote: |
Everyday I walk across at least 10 difference ajumma's in my area that wear these demented face masks. The question is why? Is the sun's rays that much more harmful in Korea? Is getting a tan really looked down upon here? |
"Looked down upon" may be too strong of a description, but a tan is certainly not considered a "good thing" either.
And for good reason, too. The sun is not good for the skin, and scientists say there is no such thing as a "healthy tan". The women here are smart enough to know it causes premature aging. Coming from Florida and being out in the sun all of my life, that was hard for me to admit. But I know too many sunbathers who got skin cancer later in life.
I am not a big fan of the visors either, but I kind of like the custom of women walking around with sun umbrellas. It makes me feel like I have been transported back to some bygone era. |
Uhh, ever hear of moderation? The sun provides vitamin D, dude. Yeah, sunbathing's not great, but it's the equivalent of binge drinking compared to a healthy inclusion of red wine in your diet. |
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