How melanin is produced. Why?

In the previous post from this series, we wrote about melanin. We learnt that it is an antioxidant which absorbs UV radiation to protect skin from DNA damage. Unfortunately, as we age, melanin brings more problems than benefits.

First of all, it is important to understand how melanin is produced. Why? - If you understand the production process, you have an idea how to stop it. Then it is much easier to make an educated judgement about anti-pigment products and to choose the treatment that works best for concrete skin needs.

Melanocytes (melanin producing cells) sit in the deepest layer of skin called the stratum basale. A cm2 of skin contains 1200 melanocytes. Melanin production is a two-step process: 1) UV rays penetrate into the innermost skin layer and activate the synthesis of tyrosinase ferment 2) The ferment turns tyrosine amino-acid into melanin.

Produced melanin is then delivered to keratinocytes and coloures them in brown or other shades depending on the type of melanin a person has. When coloured keratinocytes go up towards epidermis you can see suntan and/or pigment spots.

Keratinocytes originate in the same layer as melanocytes but unlike the latter travel all the levels up to the skin surface thanks to skin renewal cycles. Keratinocytes comprise 90% of epidermis cells. When you touch your skin, you touch keratinocytes.