Human skin color originates from the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, where the
pigment-producing cells, melanocytes, are localized to produce melanin. The distribution pattern of
synthesized melanin by the melanocytes determines the actual color of the skin. Melanin also plays a
crucial role in the absorption of the free radicals generated within the cytoplasm and in shielding the
host from various types of ionizing radiation, including UV light. Melanin is formed by a process
called melanogenesis through a combination of enzymatically catalyzed and chemical reactions.
Melanogenesis takes place in special organelles, melanosomes, in the melanocytes. The biosynthetic
pathway of melanogenesis has been elucidated, where two types of melanin are synthesized within
melanosomes: eumelanin and pheomelanin