Why do we have different skin pigmentation?

People have different skin colors mainly because their melanocytes produce different amount and kinds of melanin. The genetic mechanism behind human skin color is mainly regulated by the enzyme tyrosinase, which creates the color of the skin, eyes, and hair shades. Melanocytes produce two types of melanin.

What are the different pigments in the skin?

The color of skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis.

Do we all have the same amount of melanocytes?

Special skin cells called melanocytes make melanin. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes, but some people make more melanin than others. If your cells make more, then your hair, skin, and eyes will be darker. The amount of melanin your body makes depends on your genes.

Are pigment and melanin the same?

As nouns the difference between melanin and pigment is that melanin is any of a group of naturally occurring dark pigments, especially the pigment found in skin, hair, fur, and feathers while pigment is (biology) any color in plant or animal cells.

What layer of skin is pigmentation?

basal cell layer
The basal cell layer contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce the skin coloring or pigment known as melanin, which gives skin its tan or brown color and helps protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

What are the different types of skin pigmentation?

1 Hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation causes skin to become darker or different in color due to an abnormally high amount of melanin or other pigments in the skin. 2 Hypopigmentation. Skin with hypopigmentation is lighter in color due to an abnormally low amount of melanin. 3 Depigmentation.

What is skin pigmentation and why does it matter?

She is an assistant professor at Columbia University and works in private practice in New York City. Skin pigmentation is the color of your skin due to a certain amount of melanin, a natural pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their unique color. Your skin could become darker or lighter due to changes in your body’s production of melanin.

How do we have different skin colors?

Some of us are white, some black and some in between, but did you ever wonder how do we have these variations of colors. Why do people have different skin colors? Human skin color varies from white to almost black. The range of colors comes from the amount and type of pigment known as melanin found in the skin.

Is skin color just a matter of melanin?

Now we know that skin color is just a matter of how much melanin you have. The versions of the skin color genes tell your body how much melanin to make. All of this means that the difference between dark and light skin is only a few changes in DNA!