Function of Melanin and Carotenoids

Our body has pigment in it. Melanin is a pigment. How much pigment your body has determines how dark your skin is. What is pigment?

Basically pigment is a molecule that determines how much wavelength of light is reflected. Pigments absorb wavelengths of light, and allow others to reflect. Pigmented objects reflect only certain light waves back, instead of others.

********************************************************************
For Auto glass repair and replacement in the city of Concord, Duran's is your company to call. Providing the very best auto glass 

********************************************************************

Melanin is an actual pigment located in the skin. It is made up of a certain type of cell known as a melanocyte. The human body has two forms of pigment, eumelanin, and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is brown-black. Pheomelanin is yellow to red. The amount of each of these molecules varies in the skin, and causes the color of the skin to vary in different people, depending on the amount of melanin that is present in their skin.

Other factors that can contribute to the color of skin may include the blood vessels in the skin, and how much hemoglobin is present. Typically melanin will absorb ultraviolent rays and convert that light into energy. Darkening of the skin happens when the skin is damaged by ultraviolet radiation. The skin makes more melanin in response to the radiation from the sun, to protect the skin, but this is a temporary effect.

Beta Carotene and Night Vision

Melanin is present in many places of the body, including in the iris of the eye. Retinal pigment is made from vitamin A, which is a critical nutrient that is needed for vision, particularly night vision. Carotenoids coming from beta carotene are critical for good vision.

The body has to convert vitamin A so that vision can remain sharp. That is why it is necessary to eat foods with plenty of carotenoids to keep vision healthy. One of the best ways to get this pigment is from carrots, which contain high levels of beta carotene.