Pheomelanin

Pheomelanin is a yellow-red, sulfur-containing pigment found in skin and hair. It is one of the two main forms of melanin in humans.

Melanogenesis: Melanogenesis is the production of melanin pigments by specialized cells called melanocytes. Pheomelanin forms through this pigment-producing pathway when melanocytes have sufficient cysteine.
Melanin: Melanin is a group of pigments that color skin, hair, eyes, and other tissues. Pheomelanin is one distinct chemical form within this pigment family.
Red hair: Red hair is a hair color produced by relatively high pheomelanin and low eumelanin. It is the clearest visible trait associated with abundant pheomelanin.
Melanoma: Melanoma is a cancer arising from pigment-producing melanocytes. Pheomelanin-associated oxidative damage may contribute to melanoma risk alongside ultraviolet injury.
Cysteine: Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid used to build proteins and other molecules. It supplies sulfur that is incorporated into pheomelanin during pigment synthesis.
Melanocyte: A melanocyte is a pigment-producing cell found mainly in the skin and hair follicles. Melanocytes synthesize pheomelanin and transfer pigment-containing organelles to neighboring cells.
Freckles: Freckles are small, concentrated patches of increased pigmentation that often darken after sun exposure. They are common in people with red hair and variants affecting pheomelanin production.
MC1R: MC1R is a gene encoding a receptor that helps regulate the balance between pheomelanin and eumelanin production. Common MC1R variants are strongly associated with red hair and increased pheomelanin.
Tyrosinase: Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes early steps in the production of melanin. It initiates reactions that feed both pheomelanin and eumelanin synthesis.
Melanosome transfer: Melanosome transfer is the movement of pigment-containing organelles from melanocytes to surrounding cells. This process distributes pheomelanin through skin and hair structures.

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