An introduction to skin colour and the skin condition vitiligo The Science Behind Skin Colour © Changing Faces 2009 Registered Charity No Charity registered in Scotland SC039725

 There are so many different shades of skin colour.  Have you ever wondered why others have lighter or darker complexion than you?

 What are Melanocytes?  Melanocytes are special cells in our skin that specialize in making a molecule called melanin.  What is Melanin?  Melanin is something called a pigment, which is the molecule that gives our skin colour a darker shade.

 What does melanin actually do?  Melanin protects our skin from the damaging Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.  Going sun tanning induces your body to produce more melanin, which is why people who return from tanning look darker.  More melanin in the skin is the reason why people who are darker usually do not get sunburned.

 In our skin, we all have around the same number of melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin.  However, the melanocytes in each of our bodies produce different amounts of melanin.  The more melanin you have in your skin, the darker your skin colour will be.

Which of these two men has more Melanin in his skin?? Which has more melanocytes??

Which of these two women has more Melanin in his skin?? Which has more melanocytes??

 Vitiligo  It is a skin condition that can manifest after birth at any point in someone’s life.  It leads to death or loss of function of the melanocytes in the body, which leads to the inability to produce any more melanin in the skin.  Vitiligo is very visible on someone with a very dark complexion due to the prevalence of white splotches of skin. Vitiligo: Melanin Related Condition

It usually usually starts out in small, isolated patches, but can spread all over the body. The rate of which the patches spreads across the body varies from person to person.

Michael Jackson is a prominent celebrity who is rumored to have had vitiligo. He supposedly always wore a lot of masking/ camouflage make-up in photos and in videos in order to mask the patches in his skin. Do you think he had vitiligo? Why or Why not?

 How is the Vitiligo acquired?  Scientists are not sure, but think there are several factors that can lead to it including genetic, and environmental factors.  Is it contagious?  No, you can not get it from being around, or touching someone who has it.  Does it hurt?  No, the process does not involve any physical pain, although many people who have it may go through some emotional problems due to their appearance.  Is there a cure?  No there is not a cure, but there are treatments to reduce the effects of the condition. Many people wear make up in order to mask the white patches on their skin.