Melanin popping, melanin dripping, melanated Queen and King are amongst the current self-endearment terms being used on social media by black people all over the world.
If we took a time machine back to a couple decades ago, the now glorified Melanin was not highly regarded as a skin tone of dignity.
Melanin is a natural skin pigment that ranges from dark, brown to black people and can be found on the skin, hair and eyes of humans and animals. This pigment on the skin not only gives humans a distinct radiant look. Melanin is the primary source of skin tones; more melanin on skin gives off a darker shade whereas less melanin gives off a lighter shade.
How is this magic pigment created? Melanogenesis is the process by which melanin is created. Melanocytes produce and store melanin in cells known as melanosomes.
Melanin is the primary source of skin tones; more melanin on skin gives off a darker shade whereas less melanin gives off a lighter shade.
Africans, Africans in the Diaspora and persons living in countries that have a direct trace to Africa, are the only human race with significantly high and noticeable amounts of melanin in the epidermis of the skin. Comparatively, black people have a significantly darker skin shade to that of other races.
For ages, black people have faced discrimination countless times, in relation to skin colour. That has, however, not stopped us from standing proud and tall in our skin.
In recent trends of black people showing just how proud we are of our skin, we have black people getting the molecular formula for Melanin, C18H10N2O4, tattooed on their skin!
Melanin on the skin does not only play the role of a pigment, it has these benefits:
Protects Skin Against UV Light
As a UV-absorbing agent, melanin protects the skin against the dangers of UV light on the skin.
Protects Skin Against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Reactive Oxygen Species are beneficial to basic cellular oxidative metabolism in the body. However, they can cause damage to DNA and other proteins in the body if there is an overwhelming production.
The next time you think of Melanin, do not only think of it as a colour, think of it as a ‘super pigment’ that protects you!
