Answer :
Final answer:
Melanin, produced by melanocytes, is responsible for the color of our skin and hair. It darkens with increased exposure to UV rays to protect skin cells from damage, but can also impact vitamin D production. Hair color variations are determined by the type of melanin, which diminishes with age.
Explanation:
The process which tones, darkens, or lightens natural melanin in a single process is largely dependent on exposure to ultraviolet rays, either from the sun or artificially from a tanning salon.
Melanin is a pigment found in our skin and hair, produced by cells known as melanocytes. It exists in two primary forms: eumelanin (black and brown) and pheomelanin(red). Dark-skinned individuals naturally produce more melanin than those with light skin.
When our skin is exposed to UV rays, it stimulates the production of melanin, resulting in skin darkening or tanning. This is the body's way of protecting the skin cells' DNA from UV ray damage. On the flip side, an abundance of melanin can interfere with the production of vitamin D, a key nutrient for calcium absorption.
Thus, the melanin presence in our skin maintains a balance between protection from UV radiation and vitamin D production.
Hair color also derives from melanin, and different hair colors result from variations in the type of melanin, which is genetically determined. As we age, melanin production decreases, leading to hair's loss of color and eventual graying or whitening.
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