title: Functionality of epidermal melanin pigments: current knowledge on UV-dissipative mechanisms and research perspectives.
abstract: So far it is not known whether epidermal melanins are solely photoprotective or also phototoxic. Also largely unknown are underlying UV-induced mechanisms and impact of the chemical structure. This perspective will focus on the current insights into the UV-dissipative mechanisms in melanin model systems and the implications for the in vivo pigments. We will also identify future research perspectives towards a full understanding of the functionality of epidermal pigments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Physics, Lund University, Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden. Annemarie.Huijser@chemphys.lu.se
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huijser
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezzella
authors.forename: Villy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sundström
mesh_terms: D004817:Epidermis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; C018362:pheomelanin; C041877:eumelanin