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How Skin Pigment is Made

The body's pigment production process, melanin synthesis, is like a factory. Various vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are needed during different phases on the "assembly line". If an ingredient is missing or the body cannot make it, then the finished product, pigment, cannot be made. Melanin is the pigment in the body that colors skin and hair. It is produced in cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are located in the top skin layer.

The amino acid phenylalanine is converted to the amino acid tyrosine. Melanin is formed by the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine, in the presence of the enzyme tyrosinase and oxygen, is oxidized to dopa which is oxidized to dopaquinone. Then dopaquinone spontaneously changes to leukodopachrome. Leukodopachrome is easily oxidized to dopachrome. Carboxyl, an acid, is removed from dopachrome and dopachrome is rearranged resulting in melanin. Vitamins and minerals are used along the way. Among them is folic acid. Folic acid has three components: Pteridine; Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA); L-glutamic acid. Phenylalanine needs pteridine to introduce hydrogen and oxygen which are required for the conversion to tyrosine to take place.

PABA is needed for melanin creation as it helps metabolize B vitamins. Pantothenic acid, folic acid and B12 are the B vitamins used in melanin synthesis. In addition, about 21% of vitiligo patients are deficient in folic acid. Vitamin C is needed for folic acid metabolism. Folic acid and vitamin B12 require each other for biologic reactions. And, vitamin B12 plays a role in tyrosine metabolism. Thus folic acid in its whole is more effective than the sum of its parts. Tyrosinase requires copper for the oxidation of tyrosine to dopa. Tyrosinase contains two atoms of copper per molecule. Furthermore, copper must be transported into the melanocytes and the melanosomes (organelles within melanocytes which store melanin) for their function. Copper requires the presence of pantothenic acid in order to be absorbed. PABA helps in the utilization of pantothenic acid melanin. Vitamin C enhances the rate of transformation of tyrosine to dopa.

Clinical research shows that many vitiligo patients have abnormally low levels of folic acid, vitamin B12, and C. Other research reveals that copper and zinc are reduced in vitiliginous skin.

Melanosomes are transferred to surrounding keratinocytes (skin cells) and within the hair shaft to pigment skin and hair.

Vitiliginous skin often has melanocytes but they have lost their ability to produce melanin. The borders of the patches repigment first because the source of melanin comes from melanocytes near the patch. Sunlight or equivalent artificial light helps transfer the melanin. A melanin reservoir exists in hair follicles. When melanin production is stimulated, it helps the migration of melanin to the hair.