Understanding melanin: the pigment that colors our skin
Publié le 13-06-2023 et mis à jour le 02-10-2024
Melanin , the mysterious pigment that gives our skin its unique color, is much more than just an aesthetic characteristic.
It is a fundamental part of our identity and our skin health. Melanin is responsible for the infinite palette of shades that distinguish individuals around the world, ranging from the lightest to the darkest complexions.
However, few people really understand the crucial role that this pigment plays in our body.
This article aims to enlighten you about melanin, by explaining its origin, its functions and its influence on skin pigmentation.
I. What is melanin?
Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, present in the epidermis of our skin. It comes in different types, mainly eumelanin, responsible for brown and black shades, and pheomelanin, which produces lighter shades ranging from red to blonde. The process of melanin production is complex and regulated by various factors, including genetic, hormonal and environmental.
In addition to its aesthetic role, melanin plays a crucial role in protecting our skin against the sun's ultraviolet rays (UV). It acts as a natural barrier, absorbing UV rays and thus preventing damage caused by their excessive exposure.
However,melaninis not limited to sun protection. It also influences hair and skin color, as well as other ethnic variations seen across the world.
The production of melanin is a complex process that can be influenced by various factors. Heredity plays a major role in determining skin pigmentation, while sun exposure stimulates melanin production in response to UV rays. Specific medical conditions can also lead to melanin disorders, such as hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.
It is essential to take care of our melanin and protect our skin to maintain balanced pigmentation and optimal skin health.
Using appropriate sun protection products, as well as skin care products specifically designed to maintain melanin balance, are essential measures to prevent UV damage and maintain beauty natural to our skin.
When we expose our skin to the sun, one of the most visible effects is tanning. This phenomenon is closely linked to melanin. When UV rays reach the skin, melanocytes are stimulated to produce more melanin to protect skin cells from UV damage. This increased production of melanin leads to an increase in skin pigmentation, which results in a tanned complexion.
However, it is important to emphasize that tanning is not a sign of skin health. It is actually a defense response of the body against harmful UV rays. Although tanning can give the appearance of healthier skin, it should not be considered sufficient protection against sun damage. Excessive, unprotected UV exposure can lead to long-term harmful effects, such as premature aging of the skin and an increased risk of skin cancer. It is therefore essential to always use adequate sun protection, even when the skin is tanned, in order to preserve the health of our skin.
II. The functions of melanin
Protect the skin
Melanin is a fundamental pigment that plays an essential role in the coloring of our skin. It is responsible for the diversity of skin tones seen in individuals around the world. But beyond its aesthetic function, melanin also fulfills several other important roles in our body.
The first essential function of melanin is to protect the skin against the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. By acting as a natural shield, it absorbs UV rays and thus limits their penetration into the deep layers of the skin. This property of melanin reduces the risk of burns, cell damage and skin cancers induced by excessive exposure to the sun. People with a greater amount of melanin in their skin therefore benefit from higher natural protection against the harmful effects of UV rays.
In addition to its photoprotective role, melanin is also involved in the regulation of body temperature.
By absorbing heat from the sun, it helps maintain the body's internal temperature at an optimal level.
Individuals with darker skin, which contains a greater amount of melanin, tend to better withstand high temperatures and protect themselves from heat stroke.
Healing and prevention of oxidative damage
Furthermore, melanin plays a crucial role in wound healing and protection against skin infections. When the skin is injured, skin cells called melanocytes produce more melanin to form a protective barrier. This barrier reduces the risk of infections and promotes rapid repair of damaged tissues. Thus, melanin actively participates in the skin's healing process and its ability to defend itself against external pathogens.
Additionally, recent research suggests that melanin may also play a role in preventing oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the aging process. Melanin, thanks to its antioxidant properties, can help neutralize these free radicals and prevent associated cellular damage.
III. Melanin Absolute to pigment and intensify your tan
Our brand new innovative formula of Melanin Absolute concentrated in keratin hydrolyzate is naturally rich in melanin, an essential pigment and source of copper which acts at the heart of our cells to naturally pigment the skin*, promote tanning*, regulating melanin secretion and protecting the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays*.
This innovative formula provides a high dose of keratin enriched with melanin, perfectly assimilable to integrate into the process of melanogenesis, the process responsible for the natural pigmentation of the skin. It also influences the synthesis of keratin, considerably improving the quality of the skin. Thanks to its “ready-to-use” melanin, this formula naturally prepares the skin for UV* exposure while accelerating and preserving the resulting tan*. Enriched with an antioxidant complex of vitamins C and E acting in synergy, the body recharges its natural defenses, which are depleted during UV exposure.
Our Melanin Absolute causes a significant increase in melanogenesis, which induces increased production of epidermal melanin, the pigment responsible for skin coloring. This allows immediate and lasting pigmentation of the skin for a tanned complexion all year round. Result: tanning is 4x faster!
We know that skin aging is partly due to an excess of free radicals generated by UV rays; when we expose ourselves, our antioxidant defenses are no longer enough to fight them, which is why antioxidant supplementation is very important. .
Our formula also contains vitamin C and E with strong antioxidant activity, allowing it to protect the skin from free radicals induced following exposure to UV rays. The latter are responsible for up to 80% of skin aging, thus strongly involved in premature aging. The combination of these vitamins synergistically boosts the body's natural antioxidant pool for a global action, protects the skin from oxidative stress and delays skin aging.
Rich in ready-to-use melanin, Melanin Absolute helps improve the quality of the skin. The selected keratin hydrolyzate consists of a “ready-to-use” melanin, which will naturally integrate into the de novo pigmentation, and whose amino acids will nourish the skin. Vitamin C is also involved in the synthesis of collagen, making the skin more supple and radiant. It effectively influences the synthesis of keratin in the epidermis.
According to the clinical study* carried out in winter on 33 subjects who were not exposed to the sun, our active ingredient allows immediate pigmentation of the skin from 10 days of treatment thanks to better availability of melanin in the skin, as well as an increasing intensification of the tan as it is taken.
After 20 days, the melanin level is significantly higher in the two hours following exposure, better protecting it from the effects of UVA.
After 30 days of treatment, at a rate of 2 capsules per day, the tan is increased by 217%.
*Clinical study carried out in winter on 33 subjects with phototypes II and III, without minimum sun exposure 1 month before and throughout the duration of the study, with a intake of 650 mg of Mélaline® per day for 30 days. Parameters evaluated intragroup, before and after taking.
To conclude
In summary, melanin goes well beyond its function as a pigment that colors our skin. It is essential to our body to provide protection against UV rays, regulate body temperature, promote healing and prevent oxidative damage. Understanding the functions of melanin allows us to appreciate its essential role in our health and well-being, as well as the importance of the diversity of skin tones in our society.
