Melanocytes are phenotypically prominent but histologically inconspicuous skin cells. They
are responsible for the pigmentation of skin and hair, and thereby contribute to the …

An overview of agents causing hypopigmentation in human skin is presented. The review is
organized to put forward groups of biological and chemical agents. Their mechanisms of …

UV-induced pigmentation (suntanning) requires induction of α-melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (α-MSH) secretion by keratinocytes. α-MSH and other bioactive peptides are …

Hair shaft melanin components (eu-or/and pheomelanin) are a long-lived record of precise
interactions in the hair follicle pigmentary unit, eg, between follicular melanocytes …

The skin containing melanin pigment acts as a protective barrier and counteracts the UVR
and other environmental stressors to maintain or restore disrupted cutaneous homeostasis …

Skin pigmentation is one of the most overt human physical traits with consequences on
susceptibility to skin cancer. The variations in skin pigmentation are dependent on …

Human pigmentation is a polygenic quantitative trait with high heritability. Although a large
number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in pigmentation …

Reductive hydrolysis of pheomelanin with hydriodic acid (HI) gives two
aminohydroxyphenylalanine isomers, 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenylalanine (specific AHP') and …

Variation in pigmentation is one of the most conspicuous phenotypic traits in vertebrates.
Although mammals show less variation in body pigmentation than other vertebrate groups …

Five G-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors (MC1–MC5) are expressed in mammalian
tissues. The melanocortin receptors support diverse physiological functions, including the …