Substance that gives hair and skin its colour.

a dark (black, brown, or yellow) pigment found in some parts of the body, such as the skin

A substance that gives skin its color and protects it from sun damage.

A substance responsible for giving skin color.

pigment synthesis mediated by tyrosinase.

Black pigment in the pigment epithelium cells that absorbs light not captured by the retina, thereby preventing the light from being reflected off the back of the eye.

Skin pigment. Melanin is the skin's natural defense against the damaging effects of UV. Melanin ranges from minimal in Skin Type I to very dense in Skin Type VI. The abundant melanin in darker skin – types IV, V and VI – absorbs much UV, helping to prevent damage. Melanin is produced and distributed by the melanocyte cells in the epidermis.

Melanin is the pigment that gives skin, hair, and parts of the eye, their colour.

A pigment in feathers that causes dark colors such as black, brown, and gray. The dark color morphs of pigeons are caused by melanin.

Dark brown or black pigment of the skin.

the brown-black pigment found in the skin, eyes, and hair.

Dark pigment of the skin, hair and iris of the eye.

a pigment in the skin or hair that gives it its tan, brown to black color

Pigment in the skin that gives brown and black tones. Melanin makes a kind of screen that keeps out some the burning sunlight.

black or dark brown pigments which are present in the hair, skin, eyes and various tumours, e.g. melanoma.

the color, or pigmentation, of the skin.

The substance that determines your natural skin tone and turns skin darker when you tan.

A pigment produced by cells in the skin in response to ultraviolet radiation

A dark biological pigment found in the skin which is produced in the melanocytes.

(MEHL-ah-nihn) A dark pigment released into some parts of the body like the skin.

the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their coloring

Melanin is a protective skin pigment, produced when our skin is exposed to the sun's rays. The production of melanin in our skin is what makes us tan. When we are exposed to the sun, the UVB rays will penetrate the upper layers of our skin, causing the stimulation of melanocytes. Melanocytes are the skin's melanin-producing cells. The more we are exposed to the sun, the more melanin (dark pigment) is produced, that is why our skin gets more tanned when we are exposed for longer durations under the sun. When sun rays reach tanned skin, the melanin will absorb the UVB rays, thus minimizing its damaging effect to the skin.

the substance which gives color to the eyes and protects the macula by trapping light rays.

The coloring pigment of the hair, skin and eye.

Substance manufactured in specialized cells in the lower layers of the epidermis (outer skin layer); melanin cells in dark skin produce more melanin than do those in light skin.

The yellow-brown pigment produced by the melanocytes of the skin.

The pigments that give color to the skin and hair. The greater the amount of melanin the darker the hair. They usually decrease with age, resulting in gray or white hair.

a polymer of either or both of two monomer molecules that exists in plants and animals and serves as a pigment

insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers

chemical that causes skin to darken

Tanning pigment manufactured within melanocyte cells deep in the skin.

Dark pigment the body produces as a response to exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Brown pigment produced in the skin.

An acid that occurs naturally in the skin, hair, and retina giving it color.

dark brown to black pigment (color) found in both hair and skin.

The dark or black pigment in the epidermis and hair and the choroid or coat of the eye.

The dark pigment that gives skin its colour; produced by melanocytes. Melanin is deposited in melanosomes in keratinocytes

the brownish-black pigment produced in the skin.

Melanin from pigment cell is responsible for the coloration of hair.

is the colour pigment that gives each hair its natural shade.

Tanning pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes of vertebrate animals that is produced by melanocytes. Melanin protects the skin from further injury in response to damage by the sun. Back to glossary index

The pigment the gives the tan or brown color to skin and helps protect deeper skin layers from the sun's harmful effects.

Dark brown or black pigment that is naturally present to varying degrees in the skin, hair, eyes, fur or feathers of people and animals, as well as in plants

A dark pigment produced by cells called melanocytes in the skin. It absorbs ultraviolet radiation and is thus a natural sunscreen. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation stimulates more melanin production, resulting in a tan. However, getting a tan entails the risk of skin damage. Dark-skinned people naturally produce much more melanin than fair-skinned types and so are less liable to experience sunburn or skin cancer.

Dark brown pigment produced by melanocytes of skin. The cytoplasmic organelles secreting melanin are called melanosomes.

The pigment of the skin. The amount of this substance accounts for variations in skin color in different people and different races.

Group of black, dark-brown, or reddish pigments present in the skin. Produced by specialized cells called melanocytes.

The pigment producer found in hair or skin.

pigmenting particles that determine hair color within the hair shaft. They may decrease with age, which results in white hair color.

A pigment that gives the skin color and protects the underlying layers against damage by ultraviolet light; produced by melanocytes in the inner layer of the epidermis.

A brown pigment produced by pigment producing skin cells (melanocytes). Increased amount of melanin pigment results in a tanned hue following exposure to ultraviolet light.

Pigments causing darkness in skin, hair, feathers, etc. They are irregular polymeric structures and are divided into three groups: allomelanins in the plant kingdom and eumelanins and phaeomelanins in the animal kingdom

The pigment present in skin that reduces the amount of ultraviolet light that penetrates the skin. Increased amounts are formed during tanning. Melanin determines skin color of racial groups.

A brownish-black pigment normally found in skin, hair and parts of the eye.

a substance that gives the skin its color (also called pigment).

Substance that gives hair and skin its color.

A black or dark brown pigment that is in our skin. It is produced by cells called melanocytes.

Pigment in skin which determines skin and coat color. Melanin is found in two chemically different forms: eumelanin (which produces brown and black) and phaeomelanin (which produces yellow and red).

A skin pigment (substance that gives the skin its color). Dark-skinned people have more melanin than light- skinned people. Melanin also acts as a sunscreen and protects the skin from ultraviolet light. See the entire definition of Melanin

(MEL-a-nin): The substance that gives the skin its color.

the pigment found in the skin, hair and the pigmented coat of the retina. Produces the color in the skin and hair. Your tone of skin depends on the concentration of melanin in your skin.

A black or dark brown pigment (color) that occurs naturally in the skin, hair, and eyes.

A pigment synthethized by melanocyte cells; melanin is responsible for the pigmentation of skin. The amount of melanin increases when skin is exposed to the sun, in what is a natural defense mechanism to protect the DNA (genetic message) contained in the nucleus of each cell. Melanin encompasses two families: - Eumelanins, brown and black in colour, highly effective against UVBs - Phaemelanins, red in colour, 1,000 times less effective that eumelanins. The total amount and respective proportion of these melanins determines the colour of skin, i.e. its phototype (the ability to tan).

Color granules found in melanocytes, which manifest as the general color of our skin freckles.

a dark brown pigment of the skin, eyes, and hair of animals, especially vertebrates, that is produced in epidermal cells called melanophores or melanocytes.

The substance that gives skin its colour (pigment).

A form of protein that controls the pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes of vertebrate animals. There are two major forms: eumelanin and pheomelanin

A dark-brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye, that is responsible for tanning of the skin when exposed to the sunlight.

a dark pigment found in the skin, hair, choroid coat of the eye, and part of brain.

dark brown pigment of many animals, giving colouration to skin hair, eyes etc.

A pigment that determines skin color.

A type of pigment made in the eyes, skin and feathers.

Pigmenting granules within the keratin fibers of the hair shaft that determine hair color. They usually decrease with age, resulting in gray or white hair.

The substance that gives color to skin and eyes.

The pigment that gives skin its natural color.

The black or brown pigment responsible for the skins color.

black or brown pigments synthesized from tyrosine.

Part of the neuro-material that makes up and is secreted by the brain. It is also required to produce a human embryo. It is found in the brain cells and in skin cells. Melanin in the skin has the ability to absorb heat and ultraviolet light, produce vitamins A,D,K, and other antioxidants

The natural coloring of the skin that protects it from damage during sum exposure. More melanin is produced in response to ultraviolet radiation, leading to a darker skin tone - a tan.

A dark pigment found in skin and hair, produced by melanocytes.

A brown to black pigment that influences skin, hair and eye color. People with more melanin than the norm (hyperpigmented) generally have black hair, brown eyes and dark complexions. See text, Chapter 4. See also, "hypopigmentation."

are pigment granules in the skin that give skin its color.

A pigment that gives hair its color.

a dark pigment found in the skin, retina and hair.

Melanin is the brown coloured protein made by melanocytes.

The pigment that naturally colors the hair and skin.

The black pigment found in hair or skin.

Dark pigment formed by melanocytes

Natural substance that gives colour (pigment) to hair and skin.

A dark-brown to black pigment found in the skin, hair, and parts of the eyes.

Pigment in the skin, the amount of which determines the darkness of the skin.

Dark brown/black shapeless pigments found in melanotic tumours, the hair, skin, part of the brain and the choroid coat of the eye.

A dark pigment produced in the skin. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin, and melanin production increases in response to sunlight, causing the skin to become darker.

Broadly, melanin is any of the polyacetylene, polyaniline, and polypyrrole "blacks" and "browns" or their mixed copolymers. The most common form of biological melanin is a polymer of either or both of two monomer molecules: indolequinone, and dihydroxyindole carboxylic acid. Melanin exists in the plant, animal and protista kingdoms, where it serves as a pigment.