Which pigment gives color to the skin and helps protect against UV radiation?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which pigment gives color to the skin and helps protect against UV radiation?

Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color and absorbs and dissipates ultraviolet radiation from the sun, helping protect skin cells from DNA damage. It’s produced by melanocytes in the epidermis, and more melanin means darker skin and greater UV protection. Sun exposure boosts melanin production, which is why skin tans. The other options don’t fit because excretion is waste removal, protection is a general term, and absorption describes a process rather than naming the pigment responsible for color and UV defense.

Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color and absorbs and dissipates ultraviolet radiation from the sun, helping protect skin cells from DNA damage. It’s produced by melanocytes in the epidermis, and more melanin means darker skin and greater UV protection. Sun exposure boosts melanin production, which is why skin tans. The other options don’t fit because excretion is waste removal, protection is a general term, and absorption describes a process rather than naming the pigment responsible for color and UV defense.

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