Skin 'sees' UV light, starts producing pigment

Thursday, November 3, 2011 - 13:30 in Physics & Chemistry

Biologists report that melanocyte skin cells detect ultraviolet light using a photosensitive receptor previously thought to exist only in the eye. This eye-like ability of skin to sense light triggers the production of melanin within hours, more quickly than previously thought, in an apparent rush to protect against damage to DNA.

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