melanin

Everyday

1. Melanin is the natural dark substance in skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour. tree →
2. Melanin helps protect skin from the sun's harmful rays. tree →

In the lessons

In science, melanin explains why skin tans in the sun and why people have different skin colours: more melanin makes darker skin. Freckles are spots of extra melanin. People with albinism have very little melanin.

Examples

• Melanin gives your skin its colour. tree →
• Freckles are spots with more melanin. tree →
• Skin makes more melanin in the sun, so you tan. tree →
• Even with lots of melanin, you still need sun cream. tree →
• People with albinism have very little melanin. tree →
• Melanin also colours your hair and eyes. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Skin colour is just the amount of melanin — it says nothing about what a person is like. A tan is the skin protecting itself, a sign of sun damage, not health.