Pigments
There are at least five different pigments that determine the color of the skin. These pigments are present at different levels and places.
- Melanin: It is brown in color and present in the germinative zone of the epidermis.
- Melanoid: It resembles melanin but is present diffusely throughout the epidermis.
- Keratin: This pigment is yellow to orange in color. It is present in the stratum corneum and fat cells of dermis and superficial fascia.
- Hemoglobin (also spelled haemoglobin): It is found in blood and is not a pigment of the skin but develops a purple color.
- Oxyhemoglobin: It is also found in blood and is not a pigment of the skin. It develops a red color.
Read more about this topic: Human Skin