Pigment through MC1R

Through the pigment receptor it does what its linear cousin does: raises cyclic AMP in the melanocyte, switches on MITF, and shifts production from reddish pheomelanin to dark eumelanin, which is then packaged and handed to the skin cells above. More eumelanin absorbs more ultraviolet light before it reaches DNA and quenches more of the radicals light creates. The same receptor also raises the cell's own DNA repair activity. Colour therefore develops with far less light exposure than a normal tan needs.