eumelanin

biology

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July 20, 2026

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Eumelanin is a brown to black pigment, the most common type of melanin, found in the skin, hair, and eyes of humans and other animals. It is synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine and plays a crucial role in protecting the epidermis from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. The amount of eumelanin in the skin is largely determined by genetics, though tanning can temporarily increase its levels. Black hair contains about 99% eumelanin, while brown and blond hair have around 95%. The absence of melanin production leads to conditions like albinism.1234

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melanocyte
…of two kinds: dark brown eumelanin and pale red or yellowish phaeomelanin. Both are formed within the melanocytes by the initial oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine with the aid of the enzyme tyrosinase; subsequently their synthetic pathways diverge.
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…of two kinds: dark brown eumelanin and pale red or yellowish phaeomelanin. Both are formed within the melanocytes by the initial oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine with the aid of the enzyme tyrosinase; subsequently their synthetic pathways diverge.
Read More