What is pigmentation and how can UV exposure affect it?

• A. Melanin-related skin coloration; UV exposure can worsen hyperpigmentation or cause new spots
• B. It is hair color
• C. It is skin moisture
• D. It is blood flow

Answer: (A)

Pigmentation is the variation in skin colour caused mainly by melanin, the pigment produced by skin cells called melanocytes in response to light exposure. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, melanocytes ramp up melanin production to protect skin cells from UV damage, which creates a tan. If UV exposure is frequent or intense, this process can become uneven or excessive, leading to hyperpigmentation—dark patches that were not present before—or the appearance of new pigmented spots such as sunspots, freckles, or melasma. This is why sun protection is crucial in beauty therapy: shielding the skin from UV helps prevent these pigment changes. Other skin characteristics like hair colour, skin moisture, or blood flow are different aspects of the skin and do not describe pigmentation caused by melanin.