What is the pigment that absorbs ultraviolet light to tan the skin?
1 Answer
Melanin
Explanation:
Melanin is a compound in human skin and hair. The two forms of melanin are eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin comes in primarily brown and black hues, while pheomelanin appears as red and yellow hues.
What is UV light?
The sun emits invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays, and overexposure to ultraviolet light can cause all sorts of health issues, including wrinkling, sun spots, cataract formation, and skin cancer.
What is Melanin?
Melanin in human skin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found in the epidermis. We all have different shades and hues of skin color because certain individuals and ethnic groups have different amounts of melanocytes in their skin, which results in different skin tones. A person that has very few or almost no functional melanocytes is considered an albino, and has increased sensitivity to UV radiation and sunlight. However, some people of certain ethnicities, especially those of African descent, continuously produce melanin, because in sunnier climates, people evolved the ability to continuously produce melanin, while people in colder climates often have pale skin and almost no melanin.
How does Melanin work?
Your pituitary gland can detect when UV light is hitting your body, and releases hormones into the bloodstream that stimulate melanin production. Since the pituitary gland detects how much UV light is hitting your body through your optic nerve, wearing sunglasses can actually make you tan less!
