Human Skin Pigmentation As Adaptive Evolution Term Paper

Human Skin Pigmentation As Adaptive Evolution - Term Paper Example Skin hairlessness evolved due to the need for body heat loss from the skin surface through thermoregulation, especially under hot conditions or intense UV radiation (Jablionski 2012: 47). Thermoregulation increases skin hairlessness through evolution of epidermal cells, such as keratins and stratum corneum, which reduce the permeability of the skin and enhance resistance to abrasion and microbial attacks (Bruckner-Tuderman and Has 2014). There is high correlation between human skin pigmentation and UV radiation, whereby skin reflectance is more correlative in autumn than summer levels of UV radiation. The ability of the human skin to produce melanin helps in the adaptability to UV radiation, and thermoregulation. The adaptation of hominins, which lived in hot environments and intense radiation, was characterized by skin hair loss on exposed skin due to the necessity of heat loss for effective brain functioning for the primates. Primates had intense metabolism and brain activity, and hence the natural skin evolution and adaptability for effective heat loss (Jablionski 2012). Intense skin hair hinders thermoregulation and functionality of the eccrine sweat glands, and hence there is need for skin pigmentation to help in effective thermoregulation and controlled creation of vitamin D (Aranow 2011). Conclusion Body heat regulation is vital for any human or mammal and is highly influenced by skin pigmentation, skin hair, and environmental factors (Bruckner-Tuderman and Has 2014). The exposure to UV radiation is vital in the increment of vitamin D in the body that is vital for metabolism (Jablionski 2012).