Skin pigmentation
Skin pigmentation refers to the coloring of the human skin. It is primarily determined by the amount and type of melanin, a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. Other factors that influence skin pigmentation include the amount of hemoglobin in the blood vessels in the skin and the amount of carotene in the skin.
Types of Melanin[edit | edit source]
There are two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is brown or black in color and is responsible for dark skin tones and hair colors. Pheomelanin is yellow or red in color and is responsible for lighter skin tones and hair colors. The ratio and distribution of these two types of melanin determine the color of a person's skin, hair, and eyes.
Factors Influencing Skin Pigmentation[edit | edit source]
Several factors can influence skin pigmentation. These include:
- Genetics: The genes a person inherits from their parents play a significant role in determining skin color. Certain genes control the production and distribution of melanin.
- Sun exposure: Exposure to the sun stimulates the production of melanin, leading to a darkening of the skin, or tanning. This is the skin's way of protecting itself from the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
- Hormones: Certain hormones can affect skin pigmentation. For example, during pregnancy, the hormone estrogen can stimulate the production of melanin, leading to a darkening of the skin in certain areas.
- Age: As a person ages, the production of melanin can decrease, leading to a lightening of the skin. In addition, exposure to the sun over time can lead to an uneven distribution of melanin, resulting in age spots or liver spots.
Disorders of Skin Pigmentation[edit | edit source]
There are several disorders that can affect skin pigmentation. These include:
- Albinism: This is a genetic disorder characterized by a lack of melanin production. People with albinism have very light skin, hair, and eyes.
- Vitiligo: This is a condition characterized by patches of skin that lose their pigment. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, in which the body's immune system attacks the melanocytes.
- Melasma: This is a condition characterized by dark patches on the skin. It is often associated with pregnancy or the use of hormonal contraceptives.
- Hyperpigmentation and Hypopigmentation: These are conditions characterized by an overproduction or underproduction of melanin, respectively. They can result in areas of skin that are darker or lighter than the surrounding skin.
This skin related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD