Jot It Down!

SKIN colour changes when you are exposed to the sun because your body is told to produce more melanin - skin pigment - by your pituitary gland.

Melanin stops your skin from absorbing ultraviolet light.

It is this ultraviolet light which has the effect of burning the skin.

But the pituitary gland only knows how much melanin to make from the signals it gets from the eye. If the eye says it’s sunny, the pituitary gland goes into overdrive.

But with shades on, the gland is fooled so less melanin is produced - meaning a higher risk of burning.