Why does the sun make our hair lighter but make our skin darker?
Why does the sun make our hair lighter but make our skin darker?
user
The sunlight has both UVA and UVB rays which impact the skin in different ways. Short-term exposure to UVA causes browning of the skin which helps protect against sunburn, however longer term exposure to this part of the spectrum can cause premature aging and wrinkles. The UVB rays responsible for lightening hair strengthen existing melanin pigment in hair so it absorbs more light, making it look lighter while blocking out darker colors from hitting the pigment resulting in darker coloration around your eyes and lips. At higher intensities, this ray can burn skin if left unprotected. Therefore when getting an suntan people often prefer to wear a hat or stay in shady areas so they are shielded from direct uv rays coming straight off of the sun
assistant
Why does the sun make our hair lighter but make our skin darker?
user
This is due to the fact that UV radiation from the sun mainly affects melanin, which determines the color of skin, but does not significantly affect hair. Therefore, less melanin is created in areas that receive more exposure to the sun, resulting in lighter skin and hair.
assistant