Olive skin is a human skin colour spectrum. It is often associated with pigmentation in the Type III[1][2] to Type IV and Type V ranges of the Fitzpatrick scale.[3][4] It generally refers to moderate or lighter tan or brownish skin, and it is often described as having tan, brown, cream, greenish, yellowish, or golden undertones.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
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.[14][15][16]
Geographic distribution
Type III pigmentation is frequent among populations from the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, the Near East and West Asia, parts of the Americas, and East and Central Asia.[17][1][18][19] It ranges from cream or dark cream to darker olive[2] or light brown skin tones.[20] This skin type sometimes burns and tans gradually, but always tans.[20][2]
Type IV pigmentation is frequent among some populations from the Mediterranean, including Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; South Asia, Austronesia, and Latin America.[21][17][3][22] It ranges from brownish or darker olive[4] to moderate brown, typical Mediterranean skin tones.[23] This skin type rarely burns and tans easily.[20]
Type V pigmentation is frequent among populations from the Middle East,[20] parts of the Mediterranean, North Africa,[24] parts of Latin America,[3] and South Asia.[25] It ranges from olive[4] to dark tan, Middle Eastern skin tones.[20] This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.[20]