Illinois Nail Technician Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Illinois Nail Technician Exam with our comprehensive quiz. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each complete with hints and explanations, to gear up for your test confidently!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which substance protects the skin from UV rays?

Collagen
Keratin
Melanin
Vitamin E

The correct answer is: Melanin

Melanin is the pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin and is primarily responsible for providing protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, melanin production increases, which leads to tanning. This process helps absorb UV rays and reduce the risk of skin damage, such as sunburn and DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer. Other substances, while important for skin health, do not offer this specific protective function against UV rays. For example, collagen is a structural protein that provides strength and elasticity to the skin but does not specifically shield against UV radiation. Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin that offers some barrier against environmental damage but does not directly protect against UV rays. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports skin health and can help combat oxidative stress caused by UV exposure, but it does not actively block UV rays like melanin does.