Why Do We Get ‘Ripened’ by the Sun?

The sun helps our skin change color. When sunlight hits our skin, it triggers a special process inside our body that makes our skin darker or lighter. This is why we get tanned, the sun is like a gentle ripener for our skin!

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Examples

Lying in the sun for hours makes your skin go from pale to golden like fruit turning ripe.
A child playing outside on a summer day comes back with bright red cheeks, their skin is 'ripening' quickly!
People living near the equator often have darker skin because they're constantly being 'ripened' by strong sunlight.

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Categories: Biology · sunlight,skin biology,melanin