• What is melanin
• What is melanin used for
• Is it possible to increase melanin?

What is melanin

Melanin is the main pigment responsible for the coloring of the skin , hair and iris of the eyes in mammals. It is a heterogeneous polymer that originates through oxidation reactions starting from the amino acid tyrosine.

These reactions take place inside skin cells called melanocytes , thanks to the action of certain enzymes, including tyrosinase. The lack of this enzyme results in a total or partial lack of pigmentation, a congenital anomaly known as albinism .

The two main forms of melanin synthesized by melanocytes are eumelanin , responsible for dark brown to black colors, and pheomelanin , which goes from yellow to red.

It is therefore not correct to say that those with dark skin have more melanin : in reality the various phenotypes depend on the proportion between eumelanin and pheomelanin. Dark skin, hair and eyes are caused by higher amounts of eumelanin, while excess pheomelanin results in light hair, skin and eyes.

In addition to conditioning the coloring of eyes, skin and hair , melanin also influences the different response of the skin to the action of the sun’s rays. The amount of melanin produced and the proportions between the different types of melanin are genetically determined but in some cases the activity of the melanocytes can vary. For example, hormonal factors, the intake of certain drugs, autoimmune diseases, which can cause dark spots on the skin or vitiligo , can

modify the production of melanin .

With advancing age, then, the activity of melanocytes slows down and, consequently, the hair loses its color becoming white while the skin becomes lighter and more subject to sunburn.

What is melanin used for

Melanin has a protective function against UV rays. When we expose the skin to the sun, in fact, melanin – in particular eumelanin – is arranged around the cell nucleus to protect the DNA from the harmful action of the sun’s rays , neutralizing the production of free radicals responsible for aging and certain diseases. degenerative.

Ultraviolet rays degrade melanin, prompting melanocytes to produce it in larger quantities: the visible result is a tan of the skin .

In the hair , however, the destruction of melanin by UV rays leads to the lightening of the hair, since there is no response to producing more pigment when it is degraded.

Eumelanin is therefore a mild natural solar filter and, since it is more expressed in people with dark hair, skin and eyes, these phenotypes tan faster and more easily, making them less prone to erythema and sunburn than those with fair complexions.

Is it possible to increase melanin?

Light-skinned phenotypes often wonder how to increase melanin , which foods contain melanin, or if there are effective melanin supplements for tanning without rashes and sunburn.

In fact, those with fair skin should protect themselves as much as possible from the sun’s rays as they are more at risk of developing skin diseases and skin cancers than dark phenotypes.

In addition to avoiding exposure to sunlight, it is advisable to include foods rich in vitamin C , vitamin A, beta- carotene and flavonoids in your diet, for an antioxidant action that contrasts the damage of free radicals . The daily diet should therefore include fresh fruit , vegetables , nuts and nuts .

In any case, even for those with dark skin , melanin alone is not enough to defend against damage caused by the sun’s rays, therefore it is always advisable to avoid excessive exposure to the sun or protect the skin with clothing or sunscreen.