Have you ever wondered why does the sun darken your skin yet lighten your hair?

Vidunenahawula Website (National Institute of Fundamental Studies)

Have you ever wondered why does the sun darken your skin yet lighten your hair? In both cases, the sun’s UV rays break down the melanin which is the pigment responsible for colour of your hair and skin. The difference in the fact is that hair is made up of dead cells while skin cells are alive. When the pigment is destroyed by the sun and it’s not replenished in the hair, so it gets lighter. Since hair is dead, the hair will stay that colour until new hair comes in. Once the first layer of melanin has been destroyed by the sun, your skin reacts by creating another layer of dark pigmented melanin, making skin colour darker.