What Is Melanin?

It is produce by specialized skin cells called melanocytes. Everybody has the same quantity of melanocytes, and the amount of skin melanin produced determines our skin colour.

People with darker skin produce more quantity, that is why black and dark skinned people are better protected from uva rays and uvb rays , and premature aging skin . Fair skinned people are less protected, and are more susceptible to skin cancer. The lack of this pigment causes albinism.

There are two types:

• Eumelanin: is more abundant and darker.
• Pheomelanin: red or yellowish colour. More abundant in red or blondes.

Whether from a day on the beach or hours spent in a tanning salon, the "tan" color your skin gets after baking under UV rays, is a sign of skin damage. When it's exposed to UV rays our skin produces this dark pigment to protect skin cells from damage. When our skin is exposed to UV rays it produces more quantity, and may become darker over the next few days.

Everyone, no matter their skin tone, is at risk of skin damage. Your best bet for a safe tanning is self-tanning . There are six skin categories recognized by the FDA and the AAD. Each is classified by sensitivity to the sun and typical skin tone. Check out the table below to see which skin type you are

Type Sun History Example:

• I- Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun sensitive skin. Red-headed, freckles, Irish/Scots/Welsh.
  
  
• II- Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun sensitive skin. Fair-skinned, fair-haired, blue or green-eyed, Caucasians.
  
  
• III- Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, sun sensitive skin.Average skin.
  
  
• IV- Burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive.Mediterranean-type,Caucasians.
  
  
• V- Rarely burns, tans well, sun insensitive skin.Middle Eastern, some Hispanics, some African-Americans.
  
  
• VI- Never burns, deeply pigmented, sun insensitive skin.African-Americans

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