Melanin - what is it and why is it needed?

We all know that people differ from each other in skin color, eyes and hair, but do not always think about why this happens. But this is melanin. What it is? Pigment of black or dark brown color, which is present in some cells, located both in the epidermis and in the iris of the eye. In some cases, its quantity is determined by the genotype, in others - by the environmental conditions.

The fact that the production of melanin occurs under the influence of sunlight - the skin is protected from ultraviolet light, there is a tan. The more time a person spends in the sun, the darker becomes his skin - this is the usual defensive reaction of the body. But almost everyone knows that different people get tanned worse or better, someone just gets burned. As with the color of the eyes, this is determined by the genotype. In the skin of such people, just a little melanin, and the body also produces an insufficient amount of it, so you have to use sunscreen.

This function of melanin is extremely important, and although in the world and so many cases of skin cancer are registered each year, without this pigment there would be even more. To take at least the African continent - without the powerful photo-protection inherent in local residents, it would be simply impossible to survive. So it is this substance that is responsible for the color of the skin and protects it from the harmful effects of sunlight.

Thus, it is easy to distinguish people with high levels of melanin from others - they easily sunbathe, and the shade of their skin is rarely very light, usually it is olive or even darker. There is also a condition where the body can not in sufficient quantities or even completely produce melanin. What does this mean and how does it manifest itself? In this case, they say about albinism - the appearance of such people may seem at first sight very strange. People-albino can be met infrequently, but in the animal world it is not such a rarity, especially among rodents. Sometimes in the skin this pigment is destroyed for one reason or another - then it comes to vitiligo.

Not only is it human to develop melanin in its cells in response to sunlight. What does it mean? Do mushrooms, animals and plants also produce it? Yes, because they also need a photoprotection, and this pigment perfectly shields the ultraviolet.

In addition to its main function, melanin in the body plays the role of a neurotransmitter, and also participates in the restoration and protection of DNA - the genetic information of each individual organism. In addition, it is a powerful antioxidant, an important role of this substance has long been recognized in medicine. It is this pigment that is responsible for the formation of freckles - the colored cells seem to be grouped together, and it looks like small specks on the skin, familiar to everyone.

People with pale skin often want their cells to normally produce melanin. What is it? Can this be done? Directly - no, but you can increase the consumption of foods with vitamin A, which is involved, among other things, in the production of this pigment, and also gives the skin a golden hue. Melanin has already learned how to extract from cells, and synthesize with the amino acid tyrosine. It is used in medicines for the treatment of vitiligo, as well as photodermatitis, solar eczema, etc. It is also found in cosmetics for protection from ultraviolet and used after sunbathing. Neglect protection of the skin can not be in any case, because it is fraught with not only burns, but also much more serious problems.