What is Eumelanin?
When people mention melanin, they’re usually thinking of eumelanin — and for good reason. The name eumelanin comes from two Greek words, “eu” meaning good or true, and “melas” meaning black. Among the types of melanin in the body, eumelanin is the only one that absorbs light energy and transforms it in a way that supports health and resilience.
Biological Dark Matter
Eumelanin is a deep brown to black molecule. It’s highly efficient at absorbing Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and converting it into harmless heat. This energy transformation helps protect skin cells from stress and keeps the body’s systems in balance. In this way, eumelanin works like a built-in energy converter — or transducer — helping the body manage the powerful effects of the sun.
Pheomelanin, related but different to Eumelanin
By contrast, another molecule called pheomelanin, which appears reddish-yellow, behaves very differently. It doesn’t absorb UV energy well and can even generate harmful byproducts when exposed to sunlight. In fact, pheomelanin offers little to no protection and may actually increase the risk of cellular damage over time. It lacks the key transducing properties that make eumelanin so valuable to health.
Comparing eumelanin and pheomelanin. Source: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/5/746
Here’s where things get especially fascinating: eumelanin shows properties similar to a semiconductor — materials that can conduct energy in controlled ways, like in solar panels or electronics. This means eumelanin doesn’t just absorb energy; it helps manage and redistribute it, making it even more valuable to the body.
Eumelanin and Physical Features
Red hair can contain high levels of pheomelanin, but generally, all types of skin contain a higher proportion of eumelanin than pheomelanin.
The levels and distribution of eumelanin are genetically determined and play a key role in determining a person’s skin, eye, and hair colour. Higher concentrations of eumelanin in the skin result in deeper, darker tones, while lower levels produce lighter complexions. In the eyes, a greater amount of eumelanin in the iris leads to brown or black eyes, whereas a lack of it allows other structural colours to dominate, resulting in blue or green eyes. Similarly, in the hair, high eumelanin levels create black or dark brown hair, moderate levels produce lighter brown shades, and very low levels lead to yellowish or blonde hair.
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