humans. dark skin protects you more effectively from powerful ultraviolet radiation in the tropics. skin that s darker contains a larger amount of a natural pigment called melanin. and the protection it provides is important because u.v. rays destroy put them in the body that is important to so division for example during prenatal developement. up in the high north because u.v. radiation is so much weaker than in africa people of alt how pale skin would last melanie. because the body also needs u.v. rays to produce a human team that plays an important role in building bones and helps ensure the immune system works optimally. if outlet is read