What is true about the absorption of melanin in different wavelengths?

Shorter wavelengths having higher absorption in melanin is true due to the scientific properties of how light interacts with different pigments. Melanin, the pigment responsible for coloration in skin and hair, exhibits a significantly higher absorption coefficient in the ultraviolet (UV) and blue light regions of the spectrum, which correspond to shorter wavelengths.

The reason behind this phenomenon is rooted in the molecular structure of melanin; it efficiently absorbs energy across various shorter wavelengths, protecting the skin from potentially harmful UV radiation. This means that as the wavelength decreases, the absorption by melanin increases, providing a biological protective function and contributing to the coloration of tissues.

In contrast, longer wavelengths, such as infrared, show reduced absorption in melanin, which leads to lesser effectiveness in terms of photobiomodulation or other laser applications that rely on absorption characteristics. This understanding is crucial in treatments involving lasers and melanin, as it influences the selection of laser types for specific skin types and conditions.