In rural areas men and women apply thanaka thickly on their arms, legs and whole faces like a mask before they go out to work in the sun to prevent sunburn and sun damage to their skin. Men and women working outdoors in urban areas do the same.
Urban female office workers who spend less time in the sun wear thanaka for its beauty and cosmetic purposes, often applying it with make-up artistry, creating circles, squares with fine lines and leaf patterns on their faces.
Yangon resident Aye Aye Kyi said she uses thanaka because she likes the look of it applied lightly to her cheeks in a neat pattern.