Melanin lesion or hyper-pigmented occurred on the skin or mucosa when melanocyte had produce more melanin pigment than normal.
Why?
3 factor that involve in increase melanin pigment
- Genetic
- UV
- Hormone
Look at the picture!
Roy keane and Viera have differed skin color, the difference is at the ability of the melanocyte to produce melanin not the number of melanocyte(This 2 people have same number of melanocyte), which this ability is controled by Genetic.
Second "UV"
UV will convert tyrosine to tyrosinase and transform to Dopa and finally product is melanin pigment. This is the reason that why UV make us hyper-pigmented. But if you are the white one, maybe you will not blacken but your skin will turn red instead. Because the color of skin is not only control by UV but the genetic is also influence.
The last "Hormone"
Let me told about the some basic of hormone that involve in produce the melanin pigment first. Melanin stimulating hormone (MSH) is control the production of melanin pigment, MSH is secreated by anterior pituitary gland, same as adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) and Tyroid stimulating hormone(TSH).
The research discover that MSH shares the same precursor molecule as ACTH, so if your body generate more ACTH, your MSH also elevated.
For example, the Addison disease (chronic adrenal insufficiency) patient who can't secrete cortisol hormone. Thus, Anterior pituitary gland(negative feedback from low level of cortisol hormone) will produce more ACTH to stimulate adrenal gland to secrete cortisol. The side effect is also produced more MSH. It is why Addison disease patient have hyper-pigmented lesion at skin.
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