Melanin, the pigment responsible for darker skin tones, acts as a natural sunscreen by blocking ultraviolet (UVB) rays from entering the deeper layers of the skin. While this is an advantage for preventing skin cancer, it means that individuals with darker skin require much more time—sometimes up to ten times longer—under the sun to produce the same amount of Vitamin D as those with lighter skin. Consequently, these individuals are more prone to chronic deficiency in modern, indoor-centric societies or less sunny climates.
