The living cells of the outer skin layer contain pigments, or coloring materials. Skin that contains large amounts of the pigment carotene has a yellowish tinge. This color of skin is found primarily in people of Asian ancestry. Africans and people of African descent have large quantities of the pigment melanin that results in brown or black skin. If there is very little carotene and melanin, the skin is pink.
Pink skin is caused by hemoglobin, a pigment in the blood.
The blood passes through tiny blood vessels that are very close to the surface of the skin. Unless the skin is dark from melanin or carotene, the hemoglobin in the blood will be the primary coloring factor. Most people have the same pigments for skin color with varying amounts. These pigments absorb the burning rays of the sun and protect the deeper cells from sunburn, which can be very dangerous. The skin is thickest on your palms and soles and is thinnest on your eyelids.