Submitted by dxrknxrth t3_ztc5yv in askscience
So, genetically and evolutionarily speaking, are people who live in colder countries better at staying warm and less susceptible to the effects of cold weather, such as frostbite?
And similarly, are people who live in warmer climates less susceptible to effects of warm weather, such as sunburn or skin cancer?
mixer99 t1_j1e3nd1 wrote
Absolutely. Darker skin has more melanin, which offers more protection from harmful sun rays. As people started migrating into Europe, where the sun shines a lot less, it became more important to have lighter skin that makes vitamin d more efficiently.