UV rays and pigmentation are well known. Recent advances have pointed out to levels of Vitamin D3 and skin inflammation. Are they significant in causing pigmentation?
Pigmentation (how dark) affects vitamin D3 production in the skin (i.e., Clemens et al., 1982 Lancet 1(8263):74-6 and Glass et al., 2009, PLOS One 4(8):e6477) but I have not heard of a link the other way, that vitamin D affects pigment production.
Most papers focusing on pigmentation and vitamin D either look at one of two subjects:
1. Effects of vitamin D on facultative skin pigmentation following UV exposure. Some groups have focused on this in vitiligo patients.
2. Others have focused on vitamin D production in various skin pigmentary phenotypes following UV exposure.
It sounds like you are trying to look at the first subject I listed but I am not sure. Can you explain a little more please?
Dr Anne, thank you for the response.
I was interested in hyper pigmentation and levels of vitamin D3.
in cases of excessive pigmentation or acanthosis nigricans benign type or in lichen planus pigmentosus.
Vitamin D or vitamin D analogues have been used in the management of psoriasis usually together with UVB. I am not aware of any reports of hyper pigmentation that may result from these treatments. You might consider making a search on this topic as well.
Dr Nikiferos thank you for the response. I have been doing some search but some have given conflicting reports.
in some cases who were investigated for hyperpigmentation they had low levels of vitamin D. their pigmentation was diffuse mostly females and had sufficient sun exposure.
hence the question to clarify whether the levels have any association to pigmentation.
I think the question is not very easy to answer in a few words. we have to explore the pathogenesis of pigmentation. Pigmentation is associated with oxidative stress. Vitamin D is a membrane antioxidant. Vitamin D protect face skin by antioxidation, isn't?
A number of vitamin deficiencies can also affect our skin tone, leading to a loss of skin pigmentation and a pale complexion, Vitamin C, vitamin B-9, or folic acid, and vitamin B-12, or cobalamin.
The level of pigmentation in our skin can affect vitamin D levels in our body. Melanocytes, the cells that produce our skin pigment, serve as the site of vitamin D production in the body. When exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes begin to synthesize vitamin D, and adequate sunlight helps to fight vitamin D deficiency. The level of skin pigmentation helps determine how much sunlight we need to make enough vitamin D: Lighter-skinned individuals typically require less sunlight than darker-skinned individuals. Vitamin D is also available in fortified foods such as milk and cereal. The RDI of vitamin D is 600 international units.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Molecular Cell Biology
- Culture Cells
- Cell Line