Melanin (Term)

Melanin (Term) — the natural pigment produced by specialized skin cells called melanocytes that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. It also helps shield deeper skin layers by absorbing and scattering ultraviolet radiation, making it a key part of the skin's built-in defense against sun damage.

Key points

• Melanin is made inside melanocytes and packaged into structures called melanosomes that transfer to surrounding skin cells.
• The main types are eumelanin, which appears brown to black, and pheomelanin, which appears red to yellow.
• Differences in skin tone largely reflect the amount, type, and distribution of melanin rather than the number of melanocytes.
• Ultraviolet exposure stimulates increased melanin production, which is the biological basis of tanning.

Frequently asked

Does more melanin mean full sun protection?

Higher melanin offers some added natural photoprotection, but it does not prevent sun damage or skin cancer, so broad-spectrum sunscreen is still recommended for all skin tones.

What determines a person's melanin levels?

Genetics is the main factor, with hormones, age, and ultraviolet exposure also influencing how much melanin the skin produces.

Related topics

• What Is a Humectant?
• What Is the Skin Barrier?
• Retinaldehyde (Term)
• Reef-Safe (Term)
• Physical Exfoliation (Term)
• Oxidative Stress (Term)
• Inflammation (Term)
• Hyperpigmentation (Term)

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.