melanin
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈmɛɫənən// UK //mˈɛlɐnˌɪn// melanin
n. a natural substance in your skin, hair, and eyes that gives them their color. It also helps protect your skin from the sun.
n. a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes that determines the color of skin, hair, and eyes. It serves a protective role by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
Melanin gives your skin its natural color.
People with more melanin in their skin have a higher natural resistance to sunburn.
The synthesis of melanin is a complex biochemical process involving the conversion of tyrosine into melanin by the enzyme tyrosinase, which is essential for photoprotection.
From New Latin, from Ancient Greek stem of μέλας (mélas, “black”) + -in; by surface analysis, melan(o)- + -in.