ABSTRACT
Skin color varies widely depending upon race, climate, light exposure, ethnicity, genetic constitution, lifestyle, disease, and anatomical variations. Melanin pigmentation is regulated by more than 250 genes which function during the development, migration, survival, proliferation, differentiation, and functioning of melanocytes and their precursor melanoblasts. Melanin is important not only for cosmetic reasons but also to protect skin from UV damage and also the consequent risk of skin cancer.
