Melanin is a natural pigment that gives color to your skin, hair, and eyes. Your body produces melanin in special cells, and the amount and type of melanin you have determines whether you have dark brown skin or pale skin, black hair or blonde hair, brown eyes or blue eyes.

Everyone has melanin, but people produce different amounts. Someone with dark skin has more melanin than someone with lighter skin. When you spend time in the sun, your body makes extra melanin to protect your skin, which is why you might develop a tan. Melanin acts like a natural sunscreen, absorbing harmful rays from the sun before they can damage your cells.

Scientists have identified several types of melanin: eumelanin produces brown and black colors, while pheomelanin creates red and yellow tones. Someone with red hair has more pheomelanin than eumelanin.

Animals have melanin too. A black cat has lots of melanin in its fur, while an albino rabbit produces almost none, resulting in white fur and pink eyes. The beautiful variety of human skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors around the world all come from different combinations and amounts of this remarkable pigment.