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Cited by 169melanin and skin pigmentationColor Science and ApplicationsCutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management

The impact of epidermal melanin on objective measurements of human skin colour

Alaluf, Simon, Atkins, Derek, Barrett, Karen, Blount, Margaret, Carter, Nik, Heath, Alan·2002·Pigment Cell Research
DOI 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.1o072.x
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Abstract

Objective measurements of human skin colour were made with a tristimulus (L*a*b*) chromameter in a range of different ethnic skin types. These were compared with biochemical measurements of melanin content, melanin composition and melanosome size in skin biopsies obtained from the same sites. L*, a* and b* values were found to vary significantly with ethnicity. In general, constitutively dark skin types have lower L* values, higher a* values and higher b* values than constitutively light skin types. Total epidermal melanin content appears to be the primary determinant of L* values in human skin (r = -0.88; P < 0.00001), whilst melanosome size also has a significant but more subtle influence on L* values (r = -0.73; P < 0.00001). There is also a strong positive contribution to a* values from epidermal melanin (r = 0.66, P < 0.00001), which accounts for the ethnic variation in a* values observed in this study. Melanin is also a major contributor to b* values in lighter skin types (r = 0.71, P < 0.00001). However, this relationship breaks down in darker skin types where b* values actually reach a maximum and then decrease as the concentration of melanin in the skin increases. This appears to be because of optical masking of yellow light by high concentrations of melanin in the epidermis. Analysis of the relationships between L*, a* and b* values in human skin indicate that they are very closely interrelated, and suggest that the optical properties of melanin in the epidermis are very similar to those of a dye on a fabric substrate.

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  • The melanin contribution to skin pigmentation can be quantitatively measured and distinguished from redness caused by hemoglobin and/or inflammation by reflectance spectrophotometry with use of the L* value from the L*a*b* color system.

    “The melanin contribution to skin pigmentation can be quantitatively measured and distinguished from redness caused by hemoglobin and/or inflammation by reflectance spectrophotometry with use of the L* value from the L*a*b* color system.44”

    From A Genomewide Association Study of Skin Pigmentation in a South Asian Population (2007) · cites this paper as [44]

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Authors
Alaluf, S., Atkins, D., Barrett, K., Blount, M., Carter, N., & Heath, A.
Affiliations
Unilever (United Kingdom) (GB)
Corresponding author
Alaluf, Simon
ORCID
Atkins, Derek
Venue
Pigment Cell Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-03-05
Volume
15
Issue
2
Pages
119-126
ISSN
  • 0893-5785 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0749
DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.1o072.x
OpenAlex
W2096694332
Cited by
169
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
FWCI
2.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Pigment Cell Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Color Science and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
Keywords
epidermal melanin, skin colour, skin pigmentation, melanin content, skin biopsy
MeSH terms
Epidermis, Ethnicity, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Light, Melanins, Skin, Skin Pigmentation, South Africa, Melanosomes, Racial Groups

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