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  • Writer's pictureQuentin

Reasons Behind Skin Colors

Examine your surroundings. Take a look at your neighbors. Examine the students in your school. Pay attention to the folks in your neighborhood, at the mall, in the sanctuary, and at athletic events. What stand outs to you? Perhaps you've noticed that people come in a variety of colors. Have you ever thought about why that is?

People from various places of the world frequently have distinct skin tones, which has long been recognized by humans. For instance, those who lived in tropical regions typically had darker complexion than those who did.


The human body has been researched by many scientists. They have learned a lot about the variations in skin tone as a result of this. Skin tone is inherited from parents through DNA, just like eye and hair color. Experts have also noted that people tend to have similar skin tones when they originate from areas that are exposed to comparable quantities of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.


The amount of melanin in a person's skin determines their skin color. Melanocytes are specialized cells that produce the dark brown to black pigment known as melanin. The body uses melanin to store the vitamins it needs to function. Melanin also aids in shielding skin from the UV radiation of the sun.


Tropical residents are more frequently exposed to the Sun's dangerous UV rays. This makes it tougher for the body to store folate, claims Dr. Nina Jablonski. That particular vitamin is crucial for reproduction. Their bodies thus create more melanin. Their skin turns darker as a result.


Why then do the majority of northerners have lighter skin tones? People started to experience less sun radiation as they moved further north. As a result, there was a vitamin D shortage. Their skin required less melanin so that more UV rays could penetrate in order to absorb more vitamin D. They gradually acquired lighter skin as a result.


Additionally, ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin cancer. A natural sunscreen is melanin. It shields the skin by absorbing these UV rays. However, researchers concur that the key factors influencing the formation of melanin are the need for folate and vitamin D.


People of diverse racial, ethnic, and national origins now travel and reside all over the world. Compared to you, your schoolmates may have more or less melanin. Various amounts could be produced by different family members. Never let someone's skin color be an excuse for unkind treatment. People with higher melanin have historically experienced prejudice and discrimination. What can you do to live a life that respects individuals of all races?


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