Why are there different colored skins?

Answer 1

Skin colors evolved mostly due to climates.

In hot sunny places such as Africa dark skin is beneficial because melanin, the compound that makes skin brown, absorbs sunlight and prevents UV rays from damaging the skin, a sort of natural sunscreen.

In colder, less sunny places such as northern Europe light skin is an advantage because you need to absorb as much sun as possible to get enough vitamin D from sunlight. Darker skin takes more sun to produce the same amount of Vitamin D as light skin.

Answer 2

Skin colors evolved mostly due to climates.

In hot sunny places such as Africa dark skin is beneficial because melanin, the compound that makes skin brown, absorbs sunlight and prevents UV rays from damaging the skin, a sort of natural sunscreen.

In colder, less sunny places such as northern Europe light skin is an advantage because you need to absorb as much sun as possible to get enough vitamin D from sunlight. Darker skin takes more sun to produce the same amount of Vitamin D as light skin.