Weathering Pigment

SKIN COLOUR, HOW MELANIN IS PRODUCED

melanin present in the skin: enumelanin – dark brown/black: pheomelanin – yellowish red.
• Fat: Fatty material in the skin frequently has the fat – soluble vitamin carotene dissolved in it. Carotene is taken into the body in the diet and is contain in green vegetables and carrots it has a yellowish colour and people who follow a vegetarian diet often have cello skin because of this.
• Blood: The influence of the blood on skin colour depends on the thickness on the epidermis and weather the vessels are dilated or contracted. The super ficial capillaries add pink to the overall skin colour. Oxygenated red blood cells contain a red pigment. Oxygenated hemoglobin. De-oxygenated blood appears blueish. HOW MELANIN IS PRODUCED
The natural skin colour relies on a constant process of melanin production. Melanocytes, present in the germinating layer of the epidermis, inject colour granules, melanosomes, into adjacent keratinocytes. These cell then carry melanin upwards through the layers of the epidermis to produce a dense layer of pigment. Sometimes, the transfer of melanin into the keratinocytes is blocked. When this happens, no colour is produce.
The shades of the skin is determine by the size, maturity and distribution of the pigment granules:
• Size: Melanosomes are larger in dark skin then in fair skin.
• Maturity: The melanosomes go through various stages of development before reaching maturity. Only fully matured cell transfer melanin with them into the keratinocytes. In dark skin, all the melanosomes produced reach maturity. In fair skin, not all the melanosomes reach this state.
• Distribution: The epidermis of dark skins is more densely packed with melanin then fair skins. MORE READ

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