In brief
Key points
- ✓Natural pigment
- ✓Several forms
- ✓Part of UV defence
- ✓Reduced in vitiligo patches
Colour and protection
Melanin absorbs and disperses part of ultraviolet radiation. It does not provide complete protection, and depigmented areas need additional UV precautions.
Melanin is not the only factor
Blood flow, skin thickness, carotenoids and lighting also affect visible colour, while vitiligo specifically reflects loss of functioning melanocytes.
Editorial basis: current AWMF S2k guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo, register 013-093, version 2.0 dated 27 July 2026. Reviewed on 2 September 2026.
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