Which statement about melanin types is true?

• A. It is a protein that strengthens skin.
• B. It is a mineral that forms bones.
• C. The pigment that gives color to skin and hair.
• D. It is a toxin produced by the body.

Answer: (C)

Melanin is the pigment that gives color to the skin and hair. It’s produced by specialized cells called melanocytes in the epidermis, and the amount and type of melanin determine an individual’s shade. The two main forms are eumelanin (brown to black) and pheomelanin (red to yellow), and their relative amounts explain why people have different skin and hair colors and how they respond to sun exposure. Melanin is a pigment, not a protein that strengthens skin, not a mineral for bones, and not a toxin produced by the body. This is why the statement describing melanin as the pigment that gives color to skin and hair is the true one.