Why do we have different colors of skin?

Skin has color because bodies make it. Some skin makes more brown color. Some makes less. Families share skin colors, like eyes. All skin needs gentle sun care.

Skin comes in many colors because our bodies make different amounts of brown color in the skin. Long ago, families in very sunny places often had more. It helped protect their skin from strong sun, like a hat helps shade your face. Families in less sunny places often had less. All skin colors are normal and good.

Skin color mostly comes from melanin, a pigment, which means a natural color made by the body. More melanin makes skin look darker, and less makes it look lighter. Melanin also helps protect skin from the sun. Long ago, families living in very sunny places often had more melanin, and families in less sunny places often had less. Fun fact: everyone has about the same number of melanin-making cells; they just make different amounts.