The pigment responsible for skin color is melanin. Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes within the skin. The amount and type of melanin present determine a person's skin tone. People with darker skin tones have a higher concentration of melanin, while those with lighter skin tones have less melanin.
Melanin also plays a role in hair and eye color. It is a natural sunscreen that protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
