Skin colour

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

Complexion

Definition
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Individual characteristic of the human being, which can have a wide range of different colour shades from translucent white to brown and deepest black. Responsible for the physiological skin colour are essentially 4 chromophores:
  • Oxyhemoglobin (light red)
  • reduced hemoglobin (blue)
  • Carotenoids (yellow)
  • Different types of melanin:
    • Brown/blackish (eumelanin)
    • Light yellowish (pheomelanin, black to reddish brown)
Pathological skin colorations are caused by endogenous or exogenous pigments.

Incoming links (4)

Chromophores; Melanin; Pigment; Pigmentation;

Outgoing links (3)

Chromophores; Melanin; Pigment;

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020