Here's a breakdown:
* Melanocytes are specialized cells found in the bottom layer of our epidermis (the outer layer of skin).
* They produce melanin, a pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color.
* Melanin comes in two main forms:
* Eumelanin gives brown and black pigmentation.
* Pheomelanin gives red and yellow pigmentation.
* The amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes determine our skin tone.
So, the more melanin you have, the darker your skin tone. The less melanin you have, the lighter your skin tone.
