Melanin discovery might lead to better skin whitening formulas

Categories: Beauty, Consumer, Japan

Melanin, as noted previously, is a major determinant of skin color. Eumelanin imparts brownish shades to skin and hair, while Pheomelanin imparts a yellow to reddish shade to skin and hair.

Scientists in Japan claim that they have clarified the structure of tyrosinase, an enzyme that mediates the chemical creation of both eumelanin and pheomelanin.

This development could lead to the development of more effective skin whitening products. Skin whitening products are particularly popular among Asian cosmetics brands such as Shiseido and the troubled Kanebo, whose cosmetics line was purchased by KAO.