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

  1. Lying in the sun for hours makes your skin go from pale to golden like fruit turning ripe.
  2. A child playing outside on a summer day comes back with bright red cheeks, their skin is 'ripening' quickly!
  3. 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