The Skin Melanin: An Inhibitor of Vitamin-D3 Biosynthesis: With Special Emphasis with Structure of Skin. A Mini Review

Abstract

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It performs many functions like protection, acts as a physical, chemical and biological barrier, and also helps in the synthesis of vitamin D when exposed to UVB radiations. The color of the skin is usually determined by a pigment "The Melanin" which is present in the skin and is synthesized by melanocytes. The objective of the current review is to evaluate the effect of Melanin of Vitamin D synthesis. Different search databases like Google Scholar, Pubmed, Mendeley, and Scopus were being utilized to find the relation between the production of vitamin D in the skin and its level of pigmentation. If the level of melanin increases, the skin becomes darker in color and vice versa. Melanin secretion is increased when skin is exposed to UV radiations. Melanin has photoprotective action and protects the skin from harmful effects of ultraviolet radiations. High melanin level inhibits the production of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is a prohormone that helps in the absorption of calcium from the gut. Deficiency of vitamin D leads to many threats.