Melanin is a term for a group of pigments found in our skin, epidermis, iris and hair. The name comes from the Greek word “molasses” meaning “dark” or “brown”. Its production is caused by an enzyme called tyrosine, which, in response to UV radiation, initiates the process of melanogenesis.
Melanin – types
In the human body one can distinguish three types of melanin. Belong to them:
- eumelanin – is characterized by a black-brown color and is the most abundant in our body,
- phaeomelanin – yellow-red in color,
- neuromelanin – a pigment found in the nervous system. It is produced by nerve cells.
Melanin in the skin – role
The most important function that melanin performs in the body is the protective function of the skin. It is thanks to melanin that harmful compounds of ultraviolet radiation have a blocked passage to the deeper layers of the skin. Under the influence of sunlight on the skin, the secretion of melanin increases and the skin becomes darker. The reason for this is the composition of solar radiation, which also includes UV beams, which stimulate tyrosine to increase the secretion of melanin.
Remember to protect your skin from UV radiation. You can reach for products such as SPF 50+ sunscreen or SPF50 waterproof sunscreen.
Hair color depends on the amount of melanin in it. The more of it, the darker the hair. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our eyes. Most newborns’ eyes are blue because melanin is produced in the iris later. Only in the case of children of dark-skinned parents does it appear before birth.
Melanin plays an important role in the human body, but there are diseases associated with the disturbance of its production, resulting from both excess and deficiency of melanin.
Melanin deficiency and excess
When there are very small amounts of melanin in the body, we are dealing with a genetic disease called albinism or vitiligo. People suffering from this condition have a characteristic appearance. Their skin is incredibly light, their hair is white or very light blonde, and the irises of their eyes are light blue or red.
Patients with albinism, due to the lack of natural protection of the skin against ultraviolet rays, are exposed to sunburn even when the body is exposed to little sunlight. Vitiligo can also be acquired and then manifests itself with partial depigmentation of the skin patches. This happens when the pigment-producing cells, the melanocytes, die.
Too much melanin in the body is called melanism and it manifests itself in the form of, inter alia, skin freckles, moles and other changes and birthmarks caused by excessive, point accumulation in the skin. Skin neoplasms are also indirectly associated with the disturbance of melanin production, because melanoma – a neoplastic lesion of the skin, arises from a mutation of melanin-producing cells.