It’s the skin you’re in

June 27, 2013 — assumption, atlas, colour, darker, global, lighter, radiation, skin, sunscreen, UV, vitamin D

“The twin role played by the skin – protection from excessive UV radiation and absorption of enough sunlight to trigger the production of vitamin D – means that people living in the lower latitudes, close to the Equator, with intense UV radiation, have developed darker skin to protect them from the damaging effects of UV radiation. In contrast, those living in the higher latitudes, closer to the Poles, have developed fair skin to maximize vitamin D production”.

There is a third role for skin. We often use it to make assumptions about people, which is rather like judging them on the basis of the brand of sunscreen they use. It’s not a great predictor of what kind of person they are.

Have a curious day.