Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?
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M$2 Answers
Melanin is also present in hair, and it too undergoes oxidation under ultraviolet light. However, destruction of melanin is permanent in dead cells, and so the hair becomes lighter in color with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
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M$
Sun darkens skin because it triggers the production of melanin, a brownish-black pigment that helps filter out harmful ultraviolet rays. It lightens hair because the UV light triggers the breakdown of these selfsame melanin molecules into simpler and evidently less colorful compounds.
More info at:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1006/why-does-the-sun-darken-skin-but-lighten-hair
www.google.com
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M$
Good answer. Question: Did you put that in your own words? Just curious, because it's well thought out and easy to understand.
The facts are researched, but the explanation is my own.