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Pheomelanin is one of the two main pigments found in human hair and skin, the other being eumelanin. While eumelanin is responsible for darker pigmentation and occurs in black and brown tones, pheomelanin is characterized by its yellow to red shades. The specific mixture and concentration of these two pigments determines the individual color of hair and skin.
Pheomelanin not only plays an aesthetic role by influencing hair and skin color, but it also has biological functions. However, it offers less protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation compared to eumelanin, which is why people with fair skin and red hair, where pheomelanin predominates, may have a higher risk of skin damage from sun exposure and skin cancer.
The production of pheomelanin and eumelanin is genetically controlled, with various genes involved that influence the activity of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells. The exact amount and type of melanin produced determines the range of skin and hair colors among humans.
Related terms: eumelanin / melanin / neuromelanin
