Why Does the Sun Make Your Skin Darker But Your Hair Lighter?
Why Does the Sun Make Your Skin Darker But Your Hair Lighter? Skin and hair react differently to sunlight. Typically, the skin darkens and the hair lightens, a result of a pigment in the human body called melanin . Melanin darkens the skin to protect it from harmful solar radiation. Because hair cells are not alive like skin cells are, melanin cannot protect hair from sun damage. Hair takes on a bleached appearance, while skin becomes darker. Precautions should be taken to limit exposure to ultraviolet light to prevent skin and hair damage. Sunlight = Some of the sun’s rays are beneficial , but others, such as ultraviolet rays, are hazardous. This radiation comes in three forms: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC ). The earth’s atmosphere filters out UVC radi...