The Importance of Melanin: Nature’s Sun Protection

Melanin absorbs and scatters UV rays before they damage DNA.
It’s produced by special skin cells called melanocytes.
More melanin equals darker skin and greater UV tolerance.
Everyone has roughly the same number of melanocytes — they just vary in activity.
Melanin production increases after sun exposure — your natural sunscreen.
It also determines eye and hair color through genetic variation.
Freckles appear when melanin clusters unevenly in small patches.
Albinism results from the body’s inability to make melanin at all.
Even light skin produces melanin for basic protection.
Melanin is biology’s elegant defense against the power of sunlight.