Melanocytes are special cells in skin located in its outer surface epidermis. Melanocytes are important regarding skin and hair pigmentation. Melanocytes produce special substance called melanin which recognize body coloration and often called pigmenting substance of skin.

Melanocytes are directly related to many skin conditions. In pigmentation process of skin another type of cell keratinocytes are associated with melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin and then supplies it to keratinocytes.

Melanocytes and Autoimmunity

Melanocytes are the skin coloration factories in skin. Some time due to some abnormalities in auto-immune system of the body destruction of melanocytes occurs.
Why this destruction of melanocyte occurs, here are different reasons suggest by some skin specialists.

An anti body generated in skin destroys melanocytes.
Self destruction a melanocyte cell to the production of a toxic material produce in skin.
By Nerve cell

Melanocytes and Genetics

If continue to discuss destruction of melanocytes. Genetics also involve in this. We suggest this by the study of skin condition vitiligo. In this disease destruction of melanocytes cell taken place. About 20% of all patients of vitiligo are those in which genetics is involved.

Melanocytes and Vitiligo

There is close relation between skin condition vitiligo and melanocytes cells. When melanocytes destroyed in any part of the skin there is no coloring substance melanin and hence a pigmentation less spots of vitiligo appear in this area of skin.

Melanin

Melanin is not only responsible for skin coloration but also protect skin form hazardous uva and uvb rays by absorbing them. Hence the role of active melanocytes is also important regarding save our skin from being affected by skin cancer.

Excess and low production of melanin in skin causes different pigmentation problems in skin. Excess production of melanin by melanocytes causes pigmentation problems termed as hyper-pigmentation. A deficiency of melanin in skin termed as depigmentation or hypo-pigmentation.

There are two types of melanin produced by melanocytes one is for skin other for hair. Melanocytic process in which melanocytes cells produce melanin called “Melanogensis”