What is Eumelanin
Eumelanin is a natural pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes. It is one of the two main types of melanin, the other being pheomelanin. Eumelanin is responsible for black and brown coloration. It is produced by cells called melanocytes and is most concentrated in people with darker features.
Types of Eumelanin
There are two main forms of eumelanin:
Black eumelanin creates black or very dark brown color, especially in black hair or dark skin.
Brown eumelanin produces lighter brown tones, more common in people with medium or lighter brown hair.
Functions of Eumelanin
Eumelanin plays a key role in protecting the body from damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It absorbs UV rays and safely disperses the energy as heat, preventing harmful effects like sunburn or DNA damage that could lead to skin cancer. It also acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from oxidative stress. In addition to protection, eumelanin gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. The more eumelanin a person has, the darker their features will be.
Where Eumelanin Is Found
Eumelanin is found in:
Skin – People with high eumelanin levels have darker skin that naturally offers more sun protection.
Hair – Black or brown hair contains high levels of eumelanin, while blond or red hair has much less.
Eyes – Brown or black eyes have more eumelanin, while lighter-colored eyes (like blue or green) have very little.
Eumelanin vs Pheomelanin
Eumelanin and pheomelanin work together to determine a person’s coloring. Eumelanin creates black and brown shades and offers strong UV protection. Pheomelanin, on the other hand, produces red, yellow, or orange tones and provides much weaker UV protection. People with red hair or very fair skin tend to have more pheomelanin and less eumelanin.
Genetic Influence
The amount and type of melanin your body makes is influenced by genes. One key gene is MC1R. When this gene is active, it signals the body to make eumelanin. If the gene is inactive or altered, the body produces more pheomelanin instead. Differences in melanin levels are inherited and vary across populations, explaining the wide range of human skin and hair colors.
Role in Evolution and Adaptation
Eumelanin has played an important role in human evolution. People with ancestors from regions near the equator, where UV radiation is stronger, tend to have higher eumelanin levels. This helped protect them from sun damage and preserved folate, a vital nutrient during pregnancy. In contrast, people from northern regions, with less sunlight, evolved to have lighter skin with less eumelanin so they could make enough vitamin D from limited sunlight.
