The two major pigments of the skin are eumelanin and pheomelanin. These pigments are produced by specialized cells called melanocytes located in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. Eumelanin is a brown-black pigment, while pheomelanin is a yellow-red pigment. The relative amounts of each pigment determine the individual's skin color.
The amount of melanin produced by melanocytes is influenced by various factors, including genetics, sun exposure, and hormonal changes. For example, people with more eumelanin tend to have darker skin tones, while those with more pheomelanin have lighter skin tones.
Here's a summary of the two main skin pigments:
- Eumelanin: Brown-black pigment that contributes to darker skin tones.
- Pheomelanin: Yellow-red pigment that contributes to lighter skin tones.
The ratio of these two pigments, along with the number of melanosomes within melanocytes, determines the overall skin color.
