Where is melanin produced?
Melanin is produced in melanocytes. These cells are located in different areas of your body, including:
- Your hair.
- The innermost layer of your skin.
- Your pupils and irises.
- The substantia nigra and locus coeruleus (areas of your brain).
- The medulla and zona reticularis (areas of your adrenal gland).
- The stria vascularis of your cochlear duct (part of your inner ear).
What are the types of melanin?
There are three different types of melanin, including:
- Eumelanin. There are two types of eumelanin: black and brown. Eumelanin is responsible for dark colors in skin, eyes and hair. People with brown or black hair have varying amounts of brown and black eumelanin. When there’s no black eumelanin and a small amount of brown eumelanin, it results in blonde hair.
- Pheomelanin. This type of melanin pigments your lips, nipples and other pinkish parts of your body. People who have equal parts eumelanin and pheomelanin have red hair.
- Neuromelanin. While eumelanin and pheomelanin control the colors of things you see (such as skin, hair and eyes), neuromelanin is responsible for the color of your neurons.
How does melanin affect skin color?
Your unique combination of eumelanin and pheomelanin is responsible for your skin, hair and eye color. Typically, all humans have the same number of melanocytes. However, the amount of melanin produced by these melanocytes varies. People with more melanin generally have darker skin, eyes and hair compared to those with little melanin. Additionally, people who’re born with clusters of melanocytes have freckles.
How does melanin protect the skin?
When you spend time out in the sun, your body produces more melanin. The substance absorbs light from UV rays and redistributes it toward the upper layers of skin. It also protects the genetic material stored in your cells by keeping out harmful UV rays.
But keep in mind that melanin alone isn’t enough to protect your skin from sun damage. That’s why it’s so important to wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing whenever you’re outside.
What are the benefits of melanin?
Notable melanin benefits include:
- Protection from UV rays. Melanin protects your skin by absorbing harmful rays, including UVA, UVB, UVC and blue light.
- Protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reactive oxygen species are byproducts of your body’s cell processes. When ROS accumulate in your cells, they can lead to stress, premature aging and health concerns such as diabetes and cancer. Melanin scavenges for ROS, boosting antioxidants and eliminating free radicals.
Studies also suggest that melanin may aid in immune system support and the reduction of inflammation in your body. More research is necessary to determine the full extent of these benefits.
FAQs
In its various forms, melanin fulfills a variety of biological functions, including skin and hair pigmentation and photoprotection of the skin and eye. Pigmentation of the skin results from the accumulation of melanin-containing melanosomes in the basal layer of the epidermis.
What are the different types of melanin? ›
Generally, melanin is classified into five types—eumelanin, pheomelanin, neuromelanin, allomelanin, and pyomelanin—based on the various chemical precursors used in their biosynthesis.
What is melanin and its benefits? ›
Melanin is a type of pigment that gives color to the hair, skin, and eyes in humans and animals. In addition to providing pigmentation for the cells, melanin also absorbs harmful UV rays and protects against cellular damage from UV light exposure.
Does type of melanin affect skin color? ›
Skin color is determined by a pigment (melanin) made by specialized cells in the skin (melanocytes). The amount and type of melanin determines a person's skin color.
How do you increase melanin in your body? ›
To boost melanin naturally, focus on a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. This includes antioxidant-rich foods, foods high in copper, and vitamins A and E. Besides, manage stress, guard your skin and hair against too much sun, and limit chemical treatments. This could help keep melanin levels in your hair high.
What organ produces melanin? ›
Melanin is produced in melanocytes. These cells are located in different areas of your body, including: Your hair. The innermost layer of your skin.
Do you lose melanin as you age? ›
The number of melanocytes producing melanin per unit surface area of the skin decreases by about 10% to 20% per decade. The development of new melanocytic nevi also declines, from a peak between ages 20 and 40 to near zero after age 70.
Why is melanin so powerful? ›
Melanin, therefore, protects the skin by absorbing light from harmful UV rays and redistributing it toward the upper layers of the skin. Lighter skin tones have lighter melanin and are more susceptible to cumulative DNA damage (which can increase the risk of skin cancers).
Is melanin good or bad for you? ›
Melanin is a protective pigment in skin, blocking UV radiation from damaging DNA and potentially causing skin cancer. Melanin does protect us, but this research shows it can also do us harm.
Which foods help produce melanin? ›
Eat Foods Rich in Copper: Copper is a mineral that helps to increase melanin. Include items like dark chocolate, beans, almonds, seeds, and shellfish in your diet. These foods can support the formation of melanin and are great sources of copper.
The primary stimulus for melanogenesis and subsequent melanosome production is UV radiation, which upregulates melanocyte production of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and its downstream products, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
What if melanin is high? ›
Having more melanin means you have darker skin. Sometimes, melanin can build up in certain areas and cause darkening of the skin, which doctors may call hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation results in some parts of your skin being darker than others.
What are the benefits of white skin? ›
Light skin provides better absorption qualities of ultraviolet radiation, which helps the body to synthesize higher amounts of vitamin D for bodily processes such as calcium development.
What vitamin gives you more melanin? ›
However, anecdotal evidence suggests vitamin C might increase melanin levels. Eating vitamin C–rich foods like citrus, berries, and leafy green vegetables may optimize melanin production. Taking a vitamin C supplement may help as well. Shop for vitamin C.
What causes lack of melanin in the body? ›
A lack of pigment in your skin (melanin) causes vitiligo. The reason why this happens is unknown. Research suggests vitiligo could be the result of: An autoimmune condition: Your immune system mistakes healthy cells (melanocytes) as foreign invaders like bacteria that can cause harm to your body.
How to restore melanin in skin? ›
However, the best way to support average melanin production is to eat a healthy diet full of vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. This eating style can reduce inflammation and provide sufficient vitamins and minerals for melanin production.
How many melanin are there? ›
In humans, melanin exists as three forms: eumelanin (which is subdivided further into black and brown forms), pheomelanin, and neuromelanin.
What is the most common form of melanin? ›
Eumelanin is the most common type. Pheomelanin, which is produced when melanocytes are malfunctioning due to derivation of the gene to its recessive format, is a cysteine-derivative that contains polybenzothiazine portions that are largely responsible for the red or yellow tint given to some skin or hair colors.
Are there different shades of melanin? ›
People have three types of melanin: Eumelanin makes mostly dark colors in hair, eyes, and skin, and includes two types: brown and black. If you have black or brown hair, it comes from different mixes of black and brown eumelanin. Blonde hair comes from having a small amount of brown eumelanin and no black eumelanin.
What is the difference between white and black melanin? ›
Black and darker skin tones have larger individual melanin carrying cells that are evenly distributed through the epidermis. In Black skin, melanosomes are also more active and produce more melanin. In fact, some studies have shown that Black skin produces twice as much melanin as white skin.
