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

Examples of eumelanin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No or very little eumelanin or pheomelanin (albinism) tends to produce pale skin/white hair. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024

This is attributed to dark hair having more eumelanin, which is more photostable and resistant to photodegradation than pheomelanin.6 Hair colors with higher amounts of eumelanin, which include darker hair colors, are more resistant to the changes in color and texture triggered by photobleaching. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 10 July 2024

This is caused by a natural increase in eumelanin, which determines brown or black pigment, due to hormones. —Shelby Wax, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024

There are three basic types of the pigment: eumelanin, pheomelanin and neuromelanin. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023

Their skin adapted to subtle, seasonal changes in sunlight and UV conditions by producing more eumelanin and becoming darker in the summer and then losing some pigment in the fall and winter when the sun wasn’t so strong. —Nina G. Jablonski, The Conversation, 6 Sep. 2022

And these cells produce two different types of melanin, known as eumelanin and pheomelanin. —Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022

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

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