Why would a person cover themselves completely except for the eyes?

[chaska]

I live right beside a popular moutain trail (Mt. Wilson Trail for Los Angeles area residents). Everyday I hike it for 45 min. to an hour, and everyday I meet this Asian woman that wears gloves, long sleeves (on a hot day), a hat down around her face, and she hold a rag of some type over her face. She seems very nice, always greets me. Lately, she's even taken to lowering the rag so I can see her (smiling) face. Which I feel strangely ... mmm, flattered by.

Is she alergic to the sun or something? Anybody got a clue what this may be about?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Sounds like sunlight allergy

I once saw a documentary segment about a woman who had this, and she never went outside without an outfit like the one you describe.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. Naapalm scars?

Radiation burns?

How old is she?

[happyslug]

3. Medication???

Some medications increase one's sensitivity to sunburn (For Example this is a known side affect of most of the Satins prescribed for High Cholesterol). Thus she may want to be out but does not want to burn so you dress to cover up your skin.

Also in some cultures it is still more fashionable to NOT have tan (thus showing you do not have to work in the sun) than to have a tan. She may be from such a culture and wants to keep her skin as light as possible.

These are two possible reasons, others exists.

[DustMolecule]

4. Well, you could always (politely) ASK her

if the circumstance seems right. She might even be hoping that you ask? :shrug:

If you strike up a little friendly conversation, you could say something like, "I would be warm like that, but you look comfortable." (it's an opening that she might want to take (or not)....just a thought.

[chaska]

5. Yeah, I'm gonna ask her at some point.

Be kinda weird not to. Just waiting for the right moment.

I can't really tell a whole lot about her age - she is really up in that hat. But I can see that she has no scars on her face. The strange thing is that I see her with the mask thing even in the shade. And she's always out there in the evening on the shady side of the mountain. It's a puzzlement ... that will eventually drive me quite mad. MAD, I tell you!

[DustMolecule]

6. Puzzles are meant to be solved...

...your challenge awaits!!

[Unperson 309]

7. Perhaps she is Muslim?

Or another faith which has its women veil?

It could be a variety of reasons. If a question is asked politely, it should be well recieved.

309

Be certain to come back and tell us all here!

[Bridget Burke]

8. Photosensitivity?

Some people can't take any sunlight at all. Even bright lights inside can be too much.

Although you can be born that way, it's usually something that develops later in life.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. That seems most likely.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. I'd assume she isn't muslim since she showed you her face

and she's Asian. And by Asian I'm assuming you mean Japanese/Chinese/Korean/etc. and not including Indian, Russian, Semitic, etc.

But, having been around a lot of Asians, I've seen this fairly often with bikers and even those out walking around. Could be for bug defense; though most likely just to keep the sun off the skin. The rag over the face could be to filter the air (many Asians wear face masks, even here in NYC). Could be allergy, or oculd be fear of sunburn and/or cancer. The world of healthcare and preventive medicines is a whole different world in the Asian (Oriental) cultures than it is in the European-descent-style American healthcare world.

I think you should ask her.