What You Did Not Know About Melanin

Media by Wix

Up until a year ago, I didn’t know much about melanin. All I understood was that I, and people who looked like me, had more of it, and that it gave us some protection from the scorching sun. I never went beyond that. But I always wondered why people with darker skin, especially Black people, tend to look younger than they really are. I get this all the time, when I tell folks my age, they find it hard to believe.

That curiosity grew last year when I took Anatomy & Physiology, one of the prerequisites for my program. Suddenly, melanin wasn’t just a word I associated with skin color, it became a fascinating subject worth studying.

For example, researchers in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology describe melanin as a pigment with remarkable protective properties, including shielding DNA from UV damage and reducing oxidative stress. And if you were like me a year ago, not knowing much about melanin, I hope you’ll find something new and eye-opening in this article.

What Is Melanin?

Melanin is the natural pigment that gives color to our skin, hair, and eyes. But it’s more than just a cosmetic feature, it’s a powerful protector. Melanin absorbs and scatters harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, reducing DNA damage, slowing down skin aging, and lowering the risk of skin cancer.

This explains why people with darker skin often show fewer wrinkles and signs of aging. Their higher melanin levels act like a built-in sunscreen, preserving collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and youthful.

Photo by Karina Karina on Unsplash

The Two Types of Melanin

In class, I learned that melanin isn’t just one thing. There are actually two main types:

Eumelanin

• Found in higher amounts in people with darker skin and hair.

• Provides strong protection against UV radiation.

• Responsible for brown to black pigmentation.

  
  

Pheomelanin

• Found in lighter skin tones and red or blonde hair.

• Offers less UV protection.

• Responsible for yellow to reddish pigmentation.

  
  

The balance between these two types determines not only our skin and hair color but also how much natural protection we have against the sun. A review published in Frontiers in Medicine explains that eumelanin provides stronger UV protection, while pheomelanin offers less, which is why lighter skin tones are more vulnerable to sun damage.

Media by Wix

The Benefits of Melanin in the Body

Melanin isn’t just about skin color; it plays powerful protective roles throughout the body. Here are four key benefits:

1. Shields DNA from UV damage — Melanin acts like a natural shield by absorbing harmful ultraviolet rays before they reach our DNA. This reduces mutations that can lead to skin cancer, with eumelanin (the darker type) offering the strongest protection.

   
   

2. Preserves collagen — Melanin also plays a vital role in preserving the skin’s structural proteins, particularly collagen and elastin, which are responsible for firmness and elasticity. When UV rays penetrate the skin, they generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that break down these proteins, leading to wrinkles, sagging, and premature aging. By absorbing much of the incoming radiation, melanin reduces this oxidative stress and slows the degradation of collagen fibers. This protective effect explains why individuals with higher melanin levels often show fewer fine lines and signs of aging compared to those with lighter skin tones, a phenomenon supported by dermatological studies that link pigmentation with slower photoaging processes.

   
   

3. Acts as an antioxidant — Beyond its role as a UV filter, melanin functions as a natural antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals and reactive oxygen species produced during sun exposure, preventing them from damaging cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. This antioxidant capacity helps maintain cellular integrity and reduces inflammation, both of which are critical for long-term skin health. Research published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology emphasizes melanin’s dual role as a light absorber and free radical scavenger, underscoring its importance in protecting the body from environmental stressors that accelerate aging and disease.

   
   

4. Protects the eyes — Melanin is not limited to the skin, it is also found in the eyes, where it provides essential protection against UV-related damage. The pigment in the iris and retinal pigment epithelium absorbs harmful radiation, reducing the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other vision-threatening conditions. By filtering light and minimizing oxidative stress in ocular tissues, melanin helps preserve clear vision over time. Ophthalmological studies have shown that individuals with higher ocular melanin levels experience lower rates of UV-induced eye diseases, highlighting its critical role in maintaining eye health alongside skin protection.

Did you know? Oxidative stress is like rust forming inside the body, too many free radicals and not enough protection leads to wear and tear over time.

Disadvantages of Excess Melanin

While melanin is a strong protector, having higher levels can also present certain challenges. Research highlights the following disadvantages:

• Reduced Vitamin D Production

Melanin absorbs UVB rays, which are needed for vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Studies show that individuals with darker skin require longer sun exposure to produce adequate vitamin D compared to lighter-skinned individuals. A review in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism notes that this can increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency, especially in regions with limited sunlight.

• Hyperpigmentation Risks

Excess melanin can lead to conditions such as melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and dark spots after injury or inflammation. Research published in Dermatology and Therapy explains that darker skin is more prone to pigmentary disorders because melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) are more reactive to inflammation and hormonal changes.

• Diagnostic Challenges

Certain skin cancers and dermatological conditions are harder to detect early in darker skin tones. A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) found that melanoma in patients with darker skin is often diagnosed at later stages, partly because lesions may appear in less sun-exposed areas (palms, soles, under nails) and are less easily recognized.

• Complications in Cosmetic Treatments

Procedures such as laser therapy, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin. Research in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine emphasizes the need for specialized protocols when treating patients with higher melanin levels to avoid unwanted pigmentation changes.

Disorders of Melanin

Melanin production can sometimes be disrupted, leading to visible changes in skin, hair, or eye color. These disorders highlight the importance of balance in pigment levels:

Albinism — A genetic condition in which little or no melanin is produced. Growing up in Nigeria, this was a condition I often observed in my neighborhood and schools, where individuals with albinism were commonly referred to as “Albinos.” The condition results in very light skin, hair, and eyes, and is frequently accompanied by vision problems.

Vitiligo — Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes — the cells responsible for producing melanin. This leads to smooth, white patches appearing on the skin. I have a friend who lives with this condition, and a number of public figures have also experienced it, the most widely recognized being the late pop star Michael Jackson.

Melasma — Melasma is a condition marked by dark brown or gray patches on the skin, often triggered by sun exposure or hormonal changes such as pregnancy. I experienced this during my first pregnancy, but the patches faded a few days after my child was born. In many cases, melasma improves naturally after childbirth as hormone levels return to normal, though for some women it can persist or recur.

Age Spots / Hyperpigmentation — Darkened patches of skin, often called age spots or liver spots, are caused by an excess buildup of melanin in certain areas. They usually appear on parts of the body that receive the most sun exposure over time, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. While they are most common in older adults, younger people who spend a lot of time in the sun without protection can also develop them.

Final Thoughts….

We began by asking, what is melanin? a pigment designed by God to give color and protection to our skin, hair, and eyes. We explored the types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin, each with its unique role in shaping appearance and resilience. We celebrated the benefits of melanin, recognizing its power to shield us from harmful ultraviolet rays and to explain why darker skin often ages more gracefully.

Yet melanin is not without its challenges. We considered the disadvantages of excess melanin, such as uneven pigmentation, and reflected on the disorders of melanin, conditions like albinism, vitiligo, melasma, and age spots, that remind us of the delicate balance in our bodies.

Taken together, melanin is truly a double-edged sword: a remarkable protector and a pigment with complexities. Understanding its science helps us appreciate what many have simply taken for granted. So the next time someone tells you that you look younger than your age, you can smile and say, “That’s the power of melanin at work.”

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed reading this article, please share with others.

Yours in the Faith,

Margaret (MKO)