The composition of each region in the body differs, according to its functions and role, and the melanin pigment is considered one of the important elements in the body because of the great role it plays. Follow this article with us to learn about it, its benefits, and the most important problems that can result from it.

What is melanin?

It is a natural dye inside the body, and it is a polymer that is secreted from the amino acid tyrosine, and this dye is responsible for determining the color of the skin, hair, and eyes, so the color may differ from one person to another, according to the concentration and proportion of this substance.

Types of melanin pigment

Melanin is divided into three main types, and these types each play a role in determining a specific area within the gym, and the types of melanin are:

eumelanin

It is the most prominent type of melanin and is responsible for determining the majority of the body. It is the type responsible for determining the color of the skin in addition to the color of the eyes and hair if it is dark or blond. This is because this type of melanin contains two types: black and brown eumelanin.

Dark-haired people have varying amounts of both types of eumelanin, unlike people with blond hair, who have only a small amount of brown eumelanin, and do not have the black type.

pheomelanin

This type of melanin plays a role in determining the color of certain places in the body, which are distinguished by their distinctive pink color, and this means that it is responsible for determining the color of the lips, nipples, vagina, and penis.

And the presence of a percentage of pheomelanin with a percentage of brown eumelanin means that this person will have a distinctive red hair.

Neuromelanin

This type helps determine the color of the nerve cells inside the body, and this means that it is responsible for giving color to the parts that are not clear, and that you do not see with your naked eyes.

The percentage of melanin in the body

Although all humans have the same number of pigment cells (melanocytes), which are the cells that secrete melanin, the amount of melanin varies from person to person according to their genes.

Where is melanin pigment found?

The skin consists of a number of layers, and some types of melanin, namely eumelanin and pheomelanin, are found in the outer layer of the skin known as the dermis, but basically they are produced in another layer of the skin known as the basal layer, in which the pigment cells responsible for their production reside, after that the melanin is transported into the dermis (the outer surface of the skin) by keratinocytes.

The melanin responsible for the color of neurons, known as neuromelanin, is produced in the brain.

The benefits of melanin

Melanin plays an important role inside the body, in addition to its role in determining the color of the skin, hair and eyes, but it plays other roles represented in:

• Protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays, because it is one of the absorbing elements of this type of radiation, and eumelanin plays the most important role in protecting the skin.
• It helps protect against diseases such as aging, diabetes, and cancer, due to its role in reactive oxygen resistance.
• It may help increase immunity and reduce inflammation within the body.
• It may help protect the digestive system. According to a study conducted, it was proven that the herb melanin can help protect against stomach ulcers.

melanin deficiency;

Lack of melanin pigment in the skin, hair or eyes can cause a number of problems, which are:

• Infection with vitiligo, which is one of the conditions that affect a person as a result of a problem in the immune system, where the body cannot secrete an adequate amount of pigment cells, which leads to the appearance of white spots on the skin or hair.
• Albinism is a rare and genetic condition that occurs as a result of the body’s inability to produce sufficient amounts of melanin, and it may also occur as a result of the lack of a sufficient number of pigment cells, which causes a person to have white hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, and may lead to This causes a person to have vision problems.
• Melasma, a condition in which people have brown spots on their face, and this condition may also be associated with other problems such as hormones or the use of birth control pills.
• Parkinson’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, a disease in which the melanocytes known as neuromelanin in the brain die.
• Hearing loss. In one of the studies, it was found that there is a relationship between a deficiency in the percentage of melanin in the body and deafness. Therefore, melanin may play an important role in preserving the hearing process.
• Skin damage and melanin deficiency. This condition results after the skin is exposed to one of the problems that may be represented by infection, exposure to burns, exposure to blisters, grains, and ulcers, as the skin is unable to replace and compensate for melanin in the affected area.

Treatment of melanin deficiency

Treatment depends on the condition caused by the lack of melanin. For example, people with vitiligo may need to use phototherapy, treatment with corticosteroid creams, or surgery. People with melasma may need laser treatment or chemical peels.

But if you are wondering about How to increase melanin pigment in the bodyThere are some things that you can do to increase melanin in your body, and the most important of these methods are the following:

• Eat foods that contain antioxidants, such as leafy greens, colorful greens, and dark berries.
• Eat foods that contain vitamins such as carrots, potatoes, spinach, seeds, nuts, and acidic foods.
• Eat herbs, as they may be beneficial although there are no studies proving that herbs can increase melanin production.

The vitamin responsible for melanin pigment

Some types of vitamins can help increase melanin production and get healthy skin. The most prominent of these vitamins are:

• Vitamin A, because it is an antioxidant, and is important for melanin production and protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
• Vitamin E, because it helps in increasing the health of the skin, because it is an antioxidant.
• Vitamin C (C) It is believed that this vitamin is related to the production of melanin, because it is an antioxidant, and it also maintains the mucous membrane in the body, so it may be important for the health of the skin.

Although all of these vitamins act as antioxidants that may be beneficial to the skin, there is no research or practical studies confirming a direct relationship between the use of these vitamins and the increase in melanin pigment secretion.

At the end of our article, after we got to know the pigment of melanin, where it is found in the body, its percentage, and the most important problems that result from its deficiency, we advise you not to try any creams or recipes without consulting a doctor and getting the appropriate treatment, with our wishes for continued health and wellness.