Final answer:
Carotene is an orange-yellow pigment that contributes to skin color and is also a type of photosynthetic pigment in plants. It differs from melanin, which is produced in the skin and protects against UV light.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carotene is an orange-yellow pigment that is present in the epidermis and gives skin a yellowish tint, especially noticeable in skin with low levels of melanin. While melanin is the main pigment that determines the color of human skin, carotene contributes to skin color along with hemoglobin, which provides a pinkish tint visible mainly in skin with low melanin levels. Unlike melanin, which is produced by melanocytes in the stratum basale of the epidermis, carotene is found in certain fruits and vegetables and is introduced into the body through diet. It does not have the same function as melanin, which protects the skin from UV radiation.
Carotenoids, including carotene, are also important for their role in photosynthesis. They function as photosynthetic pigments in plants that absorb excess energy and dissipate it as heat, preventing damage from high-energy light exposure. The most common carotenoid forms are lycopene, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene.