Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What are the differences between eumelanin and phaeomelanin?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
human skin
Human skin, whose cells are generated continuously by the body, serves as a protective barrier between the inside of the human body and the environment.
Melanin is the primary pigment responsible for human skin coloration, produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. There are two distinct types of melanin, which differ primarily in their appearance and chemical synthesis:12
- Eumelanin: This form of pigment is characterized by a dark brown color.12
- Phaeomelanin: This form of pigment appears as a pale red or yellowish color.12
Both types are synthesized within the melanocytes through the initial oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine, a process facilitated by the enzyme tyrosinase. While they share this common starting point, their synthetic pathways diverge after this initial stage. Together, these pigments play a vital role in protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation by forming a protective shroud over the nuclei of epidermal cells.12