Every person's body continually creates melanin. The amount is determined by genetics. You can lighten and perhaps remove existing hyperpigmentation, but it may return. It's not possible to permanently lower your body's melanin production without regular skin lightening treatments.
To reduce the excessive melanin deposits in your skin, your diet needs to be rich in antioxidants. Include healthy fruits and vegetables such as oranges, berries, tangerines, papaya, limes, kiwi, guava, lemons, mangoes, grapes, spinach, carrots, beetroot, broccoli, etc. in your diet regularly.
Can you increase melanin? People of any skin type can try increasing melanin to reduce skin cancer risk. Studies suggest that upping your intake of certain nutrients could increase melanin levels. It might even increase the amount of melanin in people with fair skin types.
It is only possible to reduce melanin in the skin temporarily. In addition, using sunscreen as well as limiting sun exposure will also help reduce melanin and improve skin tone. However, there is no permanent method to reduce melanin, because it is determined by genetic factors.
Use of strong oxidizing agents, such as permanganate, chlorate, chromic acid, peroxide, and peracetic acid, will bleach melanin, although the process is slow, taking 16 hours. The blacker the melanin, the longer the bleach takes to decolorize the pigment.
When those skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, they can produce too much melanin. The melanin can clump, causing that area to appear darker. Many things can lead to hyperpigmentation: Adrenal disorders such as Addison's disease, when the body doesn't make enough of a hormone called cortisol.
Vitamin C is a naturally occurring substance and an essential nutrient. It has various biological and pharmaceutical functions. It inhibits melanin synthesis through downregulation of tyrosinase enzyme activity.
Which foods reduce melanin? Foods like tomatoes, milk, eggs, cheese, carrots, yogurt, chia seeds, oatmeal, ginger, watermelon, kiwi, papaya, dry fruits, and lots of green leafy vegetables reduce melanin.
Vitamin C is an effective skin lightener that has been described as a melanogenesis inhibitor due to its inhibition of tyrosinase and reduction of melanin and melanin intermediates, such as dopaquinone.
With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases.
Vitamin D is known to enhance the rate of melanin synthesis; and this may concurrently regulate the expression of furin expression.
Melanin deficiency is associated with vitamin deficiency. That's why you need to increase your vitamin intake through your food or vitamin supplements. Vitamin A, C and B12 are the most needed vitamins to increase the melanin production in your hair.
It is suggested that deficiency of vitamin B12 causes decrease in intracellular reduction potential that leads to oxidation of the reduced glutathione and decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio. The epidermal melanocytes are then stimulated to produce melanin as the tyrosinase inhibiting effect of GSH has been diminished.
In the absence of SPF, you may notice at times that your skin is easily tanned. Either tan or your skin may have turned into a funny orange or peach-ish color. It is because Vitamin C is extremely potent but it can easily react with the air, light and heat in the environment to only make your skin appear darker.
Vitamins B6 and B12 have also been proven to boost melanin production. Goddard says that vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to trigger the production of enzymes and chemical reactions that boost the metabolism of the hair proteins (keratin and melanin) in the hair follicles.
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes. Bronzing of the skin may sometimes be mistaken for a suntan. This skin discoloration often develops slowly, starting at the elbows, knuckles, and knees and spreading from there.
Very pale skin produces almost no melanin, while Asian skins produce a yellowish type of melanin called phaeomelanin, and black skins produce the darkest, thickest melanin of all – known as eumelanin.
Some people make an excess of melanin. This is known as hyperpigmentation, and it's harmless. People who make too much melanin usually have patches of skin that become darker than the surrounding skin.
Ultraviolet Radiation as a Regulator of Melanogenesis
A major extrinsic regulator of melanogenesis is ultraviolet radiation (UVR), including UVA and UVB light. This is the main stimulus for melanin production, leading to induced pigmentation of the skin, or 'tanning'.
Skin layers and melanin
Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. It's unclear exactly what causes these pigment cells to fail or die.
If you already have dark spots, wearing sunscreen will inhibit the UV rays from increasing melanin production and making the appearance of the spots worse. If you don't currently have dark spots, sunscreen acts as a shield, preventing the overproduction of melanin.
Although vitamin D is essential for skin health, its primary role is the promotion of melanin formation, which may cause more skin darkening.