Melanin

What is Melanin?

Melanin is a special kind of color that gives people their skin, hair, and eye colors. It is made inside tiny cells in our skin called melanocytes. There are two main types of melanin: eumelanin, which is dark brown or black, and pheomelanin, which is red or yellow.

When our skin is in the sun, it makes more melanin to protect itself. This is why skin can get darker after playing outside.

Where Else is Melanin Found?

Melanin is not just in people! Many other living things have it too. For example, some fish and birds use melanin to color their skin and feathers. Even tiny creatures like bacteria and fungi have melanin to help them stay safe from harm.

In the ocean, some sea animals like octopuses use a kind of melanin to make dark ink that helps them hide from predators.

Why is Melanin Important?

Melanin helps protect our bodies in many ways. In our eyes, it can guard against very bright light. In our skin, it shields us from the sun’s strong rays. People with more melanin often have darker skin, which can help stop sunburn and other sun problems.

Even though everyone has about the same number of melanocytes, some people make more melanin than others. This is why skin colors can look different all around the world.