A quick guide to understanding melanin-rich skin
Melanin is the major determinant of skin colour and is also responsible for absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation to protect the skin's cells from sun damage.
Although all skin tones have the same amount of melanocytes (melanin producing cells) the amount and the type of melanin produced by the melanosomes (organelles that store the melanin pigment), plus the size and the distribution of these melanosomes differs from skin to skin.
There are two types of melanin, namely:
Eumelanin , a brown-black pigment found to be higher in melanin rich skin and shown to be more effective in protecting the skin against the damaging effects of UV radiation. It is also a great scavenger against free radicals that can cause premature skin ageing.
Pheomelanin
, a yellow-red pigment that we see in fair skins with red and blonde hair. This type of melanin offers no UV protection.
Why do we need melanin?
Excessive UV radiation can be very harmful to the skin, resulting in cell mutation, increased risks of cancer, and the destruction of essential vitamins in the body. Melanin functions as a shield against ultraviolet radiation, thus protecting the cells from the many dangers of excess exposure.
We are all born with a genetic skin colour. But over time uneven skin tone and dark marks can develop due to triggers such as ageing, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, irritating products, stress, certain medications, hormonal influences like pregnancy, contraceptive pills, and inflammation such as skin trauma or breakouts.
Does melanin rich skin produce more oil?
Melanin rich skin typically has more sebum, some of that contains natural moisturising factors. The oil glands and hair follicles also tend to be larger, which ultimately results in skin being oilier. One of the benefits of an oilier skin is that the early signs of skin ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles typically appear much later than in drier skin types. The higher lipid content however does make melanin rich skin more prone to breakouts and acne, which can result in additional post-inflammation hyperpigmentation.
Common myths about melanin rich skin:
Myth 1: My skin does not burn easily
Melanin will help to block out UV radiation up to a point, however all skins that are exposed to excessive UV radiation can burn.
Myth 2: I do not need to wear sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin. Used regularly sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature skin ageing.
Myth 3: My skin doesn't show early signs of ageing
Melanin rich skin can show early signs of skin ageing through a more mottled appearance, dullness and irregular pigmentation.
Find out more about your skin by visiting Dermalogica.
For more on beauty and health, visit Get It Magazine.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Help break the stigma surrounding diabetes and save lives
Diabetes stigma might seem like a minor problem – people making bad jokes about getting diabetes, or acting weird around injections. But the reality is that South Africa has a huge diabetes stigma problem, and it's contributing to the fact that 1 in 2 South Africans with diabetes are undiagnosed. This, in turn, contributes to the reason why diabetes is the number one killer of women and number two killer of men in our country. It's time to change the face of diabetes, by showing that it doesn't just affect one kind of person. We can do this by bringing diabetes into the spotlight and by dispelling the myths and misinformation around it. Together, we can show that #DiabetesLooksLikeMe. Read – and share – more about diabetes on Sweetlife. Share the video, share the message: This video highlights the fact that every kind of person, regardless of age, gender, race or socio-economic background, can get diabetes. Play your part in spreading the message and breaking the stigma by sharing a selfie of yourself with the hashtag #DiabetesLooksLikeMe so that we can flood social media with images of all different kinds of people with diabetes. Share your story: Is there a stigma around living with diabetes? You're invited to share your story of stigma around Diabetes on Facebook and Instagram, as well as joining in on a Facebook Live today, Wednesday 28th May at 7pm. It will be a discussion between psychologist Daniel Sher and Sweet Life co-founder Bridget McNulty, both living with diabetes, in which they welcome questions and comments from the broader diabetes community. Everyone is invited! For more on health, visit Get It Magazine.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- The Citizen
5 tips to build a climate-smart skincare routine
South African skin experts are warning that shifting weather patterns and mounting environmental stressors are taking a real-time toll on our skin health. In cities like Johannesburg, where hot days suddenly turn into thunderstorms and humidity can spike without warning, the skin's natural balance is struggling to keep up. That unpredictability is driving a rise in breakouts, inflammation and sensitivity, even in people who have never had reactive skin before. How to build a climate-smart skincare routine To support skin resilience in the face of environmental pressure, you just need to update your skincare routine and include the correct products and ingredients to be in line with your surroundings. Start with these five tips from Lamelle Research Laboratories: A barrier-supporting serum: Opt for a serum that contains niacinamide and ceramides, as these help strengthen the skin's outermost layer to protect against water loss, while keeping irritants like pollution particles out. Double cleansing: This is a must during humid or high-pollution days. An oil-based cleanser helps to lift sunscreen, sweat and excess oil. Following with a gentle gel or cream cleanser ensures that all debris is removed without stripping the skin's natural oils. It's especially useful for anyone who lives or works in areas with high traffic pollution or inconsistent temperatures. An antioxidant mist or serum: Ingredients like vitamin C or green tea extract help neutralise the free radicals caused by sun exposure and air pollution. These mists don't just refresh your skin they provide ongoing defence, especially when reapplied during long hours outdoors or in an air-conditioned office. Antioxidants work by neutralising free radicals before they can damage collagen, trigger pigmentation, or cause inflammation. Product tip: We love the Skin Essence range by Lamelle Research Laboratories. Packed with powerful antioxidants, it provides an additional layer of protection for skin exposed to the pressures of urban living. Sunscreen: And yes, sunscreen is still non-negotiable. Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic (pore clogging) formula with broad-spectrum protection. Invest in a humidifier: Indoor environments can also contribute to dehydration. Air conditioners and heaters dry out the air, pulling moisture from your skin. A humidifier can help regulate indoor humidity and support a healthy skin barrier. This is particularly important if you live in a place like Johannesburg, as the mornings are now colder, yet the afternoons are often warm which can be confusing for your skin, causing it to overcompensate. For more on beauty, visit Get It Magazine.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- The Citizen
Essential ingredients to look for in natural skincare products
Stock your beauty cabinet with gentle and effective natural facial care products to purify, hydrate, soothe, treat and heal your skin without the harmful ingredients, toxins and chemicals. Here's what you'll need for your daily regime… Cleanser You want something that gently and effectively removes dirt, makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. There's a wide range of gel, foam, cream and oil cleansers that bind with impurities, allowing them to be removed from pores and rinsed away while keeping your skin balanced and hydrated. Ingredients: Purifying: Tea tree, lemon, eucalyptus, neroli, zinc, rosemary and kaolin Hydrating: Aloe vera, shea and jojoba Soothing: Chamomile, beta-glucan, rose geranium and sweet almond Balancing: Pelargonium Brightening: Vitamin c Antioxidant-rich: Rooibos, vitamin e, green tea, white tea and cocoa Healing: Bentonite and marula Exfoliator The skin undergoes a natural cell turnover process, continuously generating new cells that rise to the surface and gradually shed to make way for the next new cells. As we age, the cell turnover process slows down, with older cells taking longer to slough off the surface and resulting in dry, rough or blemish-prone skin. Gently exfoliating your skin helps to remove the old cells and debris and reveal the younger and fresher-looking skin below. It can also improve the penetration of other skincare products like moisturisers and serums. Ingredients: Exfoliating: Apricot granules, walnut shell powder, grape seed powder and cocoa powder Purifying: Honey, propolis and beetroot Hydrating: Rose, sesame, coconut, jojoba, grape seed, avocado and wheat germ Soothing: Rose geranium Moisturiser Dermatologists recommend using a facial moisturiser as part of your daily skincare routine. Cleansing the face removes dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria, but it can also strip the skin of necessary hydration. Water in the skin keeps it plump and smooth, whereas dry skin loses elasticity, making it more prone to wrinkles. Facial moisturisers lock in this water by either blocking it from escaping from the outermost layer of skin (occlusive moisturisers) or drawing water from the inner dermis toward the top of the skin (humectant moisturisers). Ingredients: Purifying: Beeswax Hydrating: Vaobab, aloe vera, shea, cocoa, macadamia, avocado, grape seed, olive, ceramide 3, almond and coconut Soothing: Plantain and rose geranium Anti-ageing: Argan, kigelia, pomegranate, butterfly bush, yangu, hyaluronic acid and pomegranate Antioxidant-rich: Vitamin e, rooibos and honeybush Healing: artemisia, Yarrow, marula and patchouli Protecting: Manketti Find your natural skincare products at Wellness Warehouse. For more on beauty and health, visit Get It Magazine.
