While vitamin D plays a role in skin health and can influence vitamin D synthesis based on skin color, it's not directly responsible for determining skin color. Melanin, a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, is the primary factor responsible for skin color. Melanin comes in two forms: eumelanin, which gives brown and black pigmentation, and pheomelanin, which contributes to red and yellow tones.
The amount and type of melanin produced determine a person's skin tone. Factors like genetics, sun exposure, and other environmental influences also play a role in skin color.
