It"s all about skin renewal: why tan disappears in winter

The secret of disappearing tan revealed: scientists explain why the long-awaited summer skin tone doesn't stay with us for long

Specialists conducted a detailed study of the tanning mechanism, comparing the skin structure to a multilayered cake. The key element in this complex structure is the epidermis - the upper layer of skin, where unique melanocyte cells responsible for producing the natural pigment melanin are located.

Researchers made an interesting discovery: regardless of natural skin tone, the number of melanocytes is practically the same in all people. The difference lies only in the intensity of their work, which is noticeably higher in people with darker skin.

As it turned out, melanin is not just a natural dye that determines the color of skin, hair, and eyes. Its main mission is to protect cells from the destructive effects of ultraviolet rays.

During active sun exposure, the body triggers increased production of protective melanin, which visually manifests as a tan - darkening of the skin.

However, our skin is in a constant process of renewal. The upper layer completely renews within one month, which inevitably leads to the loss of acquired tan.