Illinois Nail Technician Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Melanin is the pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin and is primarily responsible for providing protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, melanin production increases, which leads to tanning. This process helps absorb UV rays and reduce the risk of skin damage, such as sunburn and DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer.

Other substances, while important for skin health, do not offer this specific protective function against UV rays. For example, collagen is a structural protein that provides strength and elasticity to the skin but does not specifically shield against UV radiation. Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin that offers some barrier against environmental damage but does not directly protect against UV rays. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports skin health and can help combat oxidative stress caused by UV exposure, but it does not actively block UV rays like melanin does.