I was in the shower this weekend with my son (aged 4) after swimming and he awkwardly asked me why mine is darker (than my skin). I had no answer for him. So can anyone answer this for my son who is actually 4.
In: Biology
Also when you’re flaccid the same amount of melatonin is in a region with less volume/ surface area so relatively it’s””denser””
It happens during puberty. The hormones that are being activated (estrogen for females, testosterone for males) also stimulate the skin cells that produce melanin – the natural pigment that gives color to our hair and skin.
So, naturally, the parts that are being affected in our bodies (nipples, vagina and penis) get darker through puberty.
Edit2: Reading your comments, I can see that I ended up classifying melanin as an amino acid, which was wrong of me. Thanks to everyone, for clarifying that for me, truly.
The sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) stimulate the production of melanin – the chemical responsible for hair and skin color. The skin that grow penis, scrotum, labia and areola are more sensitive to sex hormones and so they are stimulated by those hormones to produce more melanin.
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Funny story, just before I went through puberty I got self conscious about how my *area* was pale so I would tan in the nude when my parents were at work
Individuals here are describing the physiological causes, but evolutionarily speaking it’s to protect vital reproductive characteristics, primary and secondary, from the harmful rays of the sun.
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