The component of skin that protects against UV light is melanin. Melanin is a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes produce more melanin to absorb and scatter the harmful UV rays, protecting the skin from damage like sunburns and skin cancer.
Melanin acts as a natural sunscreen, helping to shield the deeper layers of the skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation. It is an essential part of the body's defense mechanism against the harmful effects of sun exposure. So, in the context of the question, the correct answer is melanin.
