eumelanin

noun

eu·​mel·​a·​nin (ˈ)yü-ˈme-lə-nən 

plural eumelanins

: a brown to black pigment that is the most common form of melanin and whose functions include protecting the epidermis against damage from ultraviolet radiation

Although we can temporarily raise the amount of eumelanin in our skin by tanning, the baseline amount is controlled by our genes.

—Neil Singh

If eumelanin was the hadrosaur's only pigment, it would have had grey skin like that of a rhinoceros or an elephant.

—Michael Marshall

Research shows that black hair contains about 99 percent eumelanin, brown and blond hair 95 percent eumelanin, and red hair 67 percent eumelanin.

—Kathy Wollard

compare neuromelanin, pheomelanin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Barn owls’ belly plumage is especially variable, ranging from ghostly white to chocolate brown, and can also either be immaculate or heavily spotted with black spots of variable sizes created by the deposition of eumelanin (ref). —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023

For most people, the skin becomes gradually darker as specialized cells kick into action to produce a protective pigment called eumelanin. —Nina G. Jablonski, The Conversation, 6 Sep. 2022

Hair color itself comes from two pigments: eumelanin and pheomelanin. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2018

Gray and brown colors, for their parts, appear to arise from combinations of eumelanin, pheomelanin and pigment absence. —Jakob Vinther, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2017

Therefore, an abundance of eumelanin creates black or brown hair, while a lack of it, leads to blonde hair. —Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022

Depending on their genetics, people produce different amounts of eumelanin. —Nina G. Jablonski, The Conversation, 6 Sep. 2022

Just like your skin, the hue of your hair is determined by melanin — more specifically, your unique combination of eumelanin and pheomelanin. —Dianna Mazzone, Allure, 23 Dec. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

eu- + melanin

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

eumelanin

noun

eu·​mel·​a·​nin (ˈ)yü-ˈme-lə-nən 

: a brown to black pigment that is the most common form of melanin

Note: Epidermal eumelanin helps to protect against damage from ultraviolet radiation by scattering and absorbing radiation reducing its penetration through the skin.

The more eumelanin (brown pigment) you have, the darker your skin color …

—Scientific American

Research shows that black hair contains about 99 percent eumelanin, brown and blond hair 95 percent eumelanin, and red hair 67 percent eumelanin.

—Kathy Wollard, Newsday

The marked spectrum of color and diversity of patterns that we are in mammals arises, unexpectedly, from variation in the quantity, quality, and regional distribution of just two types of pigment—black eumelanin and yellow pheomelanin.

—Sophie I. Candille et al., Science

compare neuromelanin, pheomelanin