Future Directions in Pigmentation Research

Population Genetics, Global Genomics, and Human Pigmentation Diversity

The Genetic Architecture of Human Skin Pigmentation: Evolution and Adaptation Across Global Populations

[PMID 42565097 | Arkopala Bose et al. | Frontiers in Genetics | 2026-07-24]

Integrates polygenic architecture, natural selection, migration, environmental exposure, and gene-culture interactions and emphasizes broader multiethnic genomic research.

The Genetics and Evolution of Human Pigmentation

[DOI: 10.3390/biology14081026 | Dorra Guermazi and Elie Saliba | Biology | 2025]

Reviews recent discoveries in pigmentation genetics and identifies diverse population sampling, multi-omics integration, functional validation, and gene–environment studies as major future priorities.

Simultaneous Genotyping of Three Nonsynonymous SNVs Involved in Skin Pigmentation by Fluorescent Probe-Based Melting Curve Analysis

[PMID 40741336 | Mikiko Soejima and Yoshiro Koda | Human Mutation | 2025]

Develops a rapid approach for simultaneously genotyping pigmentation variants in TYR, SLC24A5, and SLC45A2, potentially improving population, evolutionary, and forensic pigmentation studies.

Segmental Macular Hyperpigmentation: New Genes, New Clinical Implications

[PMID 40644320 | Veronica A. Kinsler et al. | British Journal of Dermatology | 2025]

Uses high-depth sequencing of affected skin to uncover genetic mosaicism underlying patterned hyperpigmentation, pointing toward precision diagnosis based on tissue-specific variants.

Pigmentation and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Thickness: A Study of the Phenotypic and Genotypic Relationships Between Ocular and Extraocular Pigmented Tissues

[PMID 40650424 | Thomas H. Julian et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Investigates genetic relationships among pigmentation traits in different tissues, helping connect skin, hair, eye, and retinal pigmentation biology.

Inference of Human Pigmentation from Ancient DNA by Genotype Likelihoods

[DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2502158122 | Silvia Perretti et al. | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | 2025]

Develops probabilistic approaches for reconstructing pigmentation from low-coverage ancient genomes, improving studies of how pigmentation evolved through migration and selection.

Mapping and Annotating Genomic Loci to Prioritize Genes and Implicate Distinct Polygenic Adaptations for Skin Color

[PMID 38849341 | Beomsu Kim et al. | Nature Communications | 2024-06-07]

Uses objectively measured skin color in more than 48,000 East Asian participants to identify known and previously unreported pigmentation loci, demonstrating the importance of population-specific GWAS and functional annotation.

Genetic Analysis of Albinism Caused by Compound Heterozygous Mutations of the OCA2 Gene in a Chinese Family

[PMID 38317267 | Yanan Wang et al. | Hereditas | 2024-02-06]

Uses whole-exome sequencing to identify OCA2 variants and illustrates how family-based genomics continues to expand the catalog of clinically relevant pigmentation mutations.

Missing Heritability in Albinism: Deep Characterization of a Hungarian Albinism Cohort Raises the Possibility of the Digenic Genetic Background of the Disease

[PMID 38279271 | Nikoletta Nagy et al. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2024-01-20]

Examines unexplained albinism cases using gene panels, exome sequencing, segregation analysis, and functional experiments, illustrating the growing importance of oligogenic and modifier-gene models.

Skin Colour: A Window into Human Phenotypic Evolution and Environmental Adaptation

[DOI: 10.1111/mec.17369 | Jiuming Liu, Habtom K. Bitsue and Zhaohui Yang | Molecular Ecology | 2024]

Reviews pigmentation genes across African, East Asian, and European populations and highlights gene flow, local adaptation, and polygenic interactions as research priorities.

Integrative Functional Genomic Analyses Identify Genetic Variants Influencing Skin Pigmentation in Africans

[DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01626-1 | Yuanqing Feng et al. | Nature Genetics | 2024]

Combines association studies, regulatory assays, chromatin interactions, and CRISPR experiments to identify functional pigmentation variants in African populations.

A Sequence of SVA Retrotransposon Insertions in ASIP Shaped Human Pigmentation

[DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01841-4 | Nolan Kamitaki et al. | Nature Genetics | 2024]

Shows that structural variation involving retrotransposons can alter ASIP expression, highlighting mobile genetic elements as an underexplored source of pigmentation variation.

GWAS Identifies Multiple Genetic Loci for Skin Color in Korean Women

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.08.440 | Jung Yeon Seo et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2022]

Expands pigmentation GWAS research in East Asian populations and provides loci for future functional and cross-population studies.

Evolutionary Genetics of Skin Pigmentation in African Populations

[DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab007 | Yuanqing Feng, Michael A. McQuillan and Sarah A. Tishkoff | Human Molecular Genetics | 2021]

Emphasizes the exceptional genetic and pigmentation diversity of African populations and the need to expand genomic studies beyond heavily sampled European populations.

A GWAS in Latin Americans Highlights the Convergent Evolution of Lighter Skin Pigmentation in Eurasia

[DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08147-0 | Kaustubh Adhikari et al. | Nature Communications | 2019]

Uses an admixed Latin American population to reveal pigmentation variants and evolutionary pathways that would be missed by studying European populations alone.

Loci Associated with Skin Pigmentation Identified in African Populations

[DOI: 10.1126/science.aan8433 | Nicholas G. Crawford et al. | Science | 2017]

Identifies pigmentation loci including MFSD12 and demonstrates why globally diverse populations are essential for discovering previously unknown pigmentation biology.

Global Skin Colour Prediction from DNA

[DOI: 10.1007/s00439-017-1808-5 | Susan Walsh et al. | Human Genetics | 2017]

Demonstrates quantitative pigmentation prediction from genetic data and provides a foundation for future polygenic models incorporating ancestry and regulatory variants.

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Quantitatively Measured Skin, Hair, and Eye Pigmentation in Four European Populations

[PMID 23118974 | Heather L. Norton et al. | PLOS ONE | 2012]

Demonstrates the value of quantitative rather than categorical pigmentation phenotyping, an approach increasingly relevant for modern biobank-scale studies.

Identifying Genes Underlying Skin Pigmentation Differences Among Human Populations

[PMID 16977434 | Sean Myles et al. | Human Genetics | 2007]

Uses population differentiation and selection signals to identify candidate pigmentation genes and provides a framework now being extended through whole-genome and functional genomic approaches.

A Genomewide Association Study of Skin Pigmentation in a South Asian Population

[PMID 17999355 | Renee Stokowski et al. | American Journal of Human Genetics | 2007]

Provides an important genomic foundation for studying SLC24A5, TYR, and SLC45A2 and remains useful for future comparisons with much larger and more diverse population cohorts.

Functional Genomics, Gene Regulation, and Melanogenic Signaling

The Small Molecule ML233 Is a Direct Inhibitor of Tyrosinase Function

[PMID 40155764 | R. Menard et al. | Communications Biology | 2025]

Identifies a direct tyrosinase inhibitor and provides a chemical tool for dissecting melanin synthesis and developing more selective therapies.

SASH1 S519N Variant Links Skin Hyperpigmentation and Premature Hair Graying to Dysfunction of Melanocyte Lineage

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.04.027 | Karoline A. Lambert et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Connects a specific genetic variant to multiple melanocyte-lineage phenotypes and provides a model for linking genotype with cellular mechanisms.

SASH1 Mutations and Hereditary Disorders of Pigmentation: Review of Literature

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.70032 | Anuradha Bishnoi et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Synthesizes evidence linking SASH1 variants with inherited pigmentation disorders and identifies unresolved questions about its molecular regulatory functions.

KT-939: A Next-Generation Human Tyrosinase Inhibitor With Superior Efficacy for the Safe Management of Hyperpigmentation

[PMID 41159291 | Xiaodan Hou et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2025]

Tests a highly potent human tyrosinase inhibitor with additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Identifying In Vivo Genetic Dependencies of Melanocyte and Melanoma Development

[DOI: 10.7554/eLife.100257.3 | Sarah Perlee et al. | eLife | 2025]

Develops scalable CRISPR-based zebrafish screening for testing genetic dependencies directly within living pigment-cell lineages.

Genetics of Skin, Hair, and Eye Color in Human Pigmentation Disorders

[DOI: 10.1111/ahg.70003 | Prashiela Manga and Stacie Loftus | Annals of Human Genetics | 2025]

Reviews pigmentation-disorder genetics and highlights increasingly complex relationships among genotype, cellular function, and pigmentation phenotype.

Dominant Negative Mitf Allele Impacts Melanophore and Xanthophore Development and Reveals Collaborative Interactions With Tfec in Zebrafish Chromatophore Lineages

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.70009 | Katia G. Korzeniwsky et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Uses zebrafish genetics to dissect transcription-factor interactions controlling pigment-cell differentiation and lineage specification.

The Co-occurrence of Genetic Variants in the TYR and OCA2 Genes Confers Susceptibility to Albinism

[DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52763-y | David J. Green et al. | Nature Communications | 2024]

Provides evidence that combinations of variants across pigmentation genes can influence disease, encouraging research beyond simple one-gene-one-disorder models.

Multi-Functional Tyrosinase Inhibitors Derived From Kojic Acid and Hydroquinone-Like Diphenols for Treatment of Hyperpigmentation

[PMID 39466938 | Authors et al. | Archiv der Pharmazie | 2024]

Uses medicinal chemistry to combine tyrosinase inhibition with antioxidant activity in potential next-generation depigmenting compounds.

Molecular Basis of MC1R Activation: Mutation-Induced Alterations in Structural Dynamics

[PMID 38923677 | Fernando Guimarães Cavatão et al. | Proteins | 2024]

Uses molecular-dynamics simulations to examine how pigmentation-associated MC1R variants alter receptor activation.

Modulating OCA2 Expression as a Promising Approach to Enhance Skin Brightness and Reduce Dark Spots

[PMID 39456217 | Eunbyul Cho et al. | Biomolecules | 2024]

Investigates OCA2 regulation as an alternative target to direct tyrosinase inhibition and links OCA2 expression with melanosomal pH and autophagy.

Melanocortin 1 Receptor Mediates Melanin Production by Interacting With the BBSome in Primary Cilia

[PMID 39621784 | Authors et al. | PLOS Biology | 2024]

Reveals that MC1R enters primary cilia and interacts with BBSome machinery, linking pigmentation signaling to an unexpected cellular organelle.

Interruption of p38MAPK-MSK1-CREB-MITF-M Pathway to Prevent Hyperpigmentation in the Skin

[PMID 38481807 | Authors et al. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2024]

Identifies a signaling cascade upstream of melanogenic gene expression that may offer additional intervention targets.

2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, a New Potent Melanogenesis Inhibitor, Exhibits a Unique Mode of Action While Preserving Melanocyte Integrity

[PMID 38560773 | Peggy Sextius et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Describes a melanogenesis inhibitor designed to reduce pigment while maintaining melanocyte viability, addressing a limitation of many depigmenting agents.

The Evolution of Human Skin Pigmentation: A Changing Medley of Vitamins, Genetic Variability, and UV Radiation During Human Expansion

[DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24564 | Mark D. Lucock | American Journal of Biological Anthropology | 2023]

Integrates genetics, UV exposure, vitamins, and evolutionary pressures, illustrating the need for multidimensional models of pigmentation evolution.

Distinct cAMP Signaling Microdomains Differentially Regulate Melanosomal pH and Pigmentation

[PMID 37142186 | Authors et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2023]

Separates MC1R-dependent and soluble-adenylyl-cyclase-dependent cAMP pathways and shows that they regulate different components of melanogenesis.

A Genome-Wide Genetic Screen Uncovers Determinants of Human Pigmentation

[DOI: 10.1126/science.ade6289 | Vivek K. Bajpai et al. | Science | 2023]

Uses large-scale functional screening to identify genes controlling pigmentation, illustrating how CRISPR-based discovery can move beyond conventional candidate-gene approaches.

TRPA1 Promotes UVB-Induced Skin Pigmentation by Regulating Melanosome Luminal pH

[PMID 36302111 | Authors et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2022]

Connects UV sensing, calcium signaling, melanosomal acidity, and tyrosinase activity and identifies TRPA1 as a potential pigment-regulatory target.

The Genetics of Human Skin and Hair Pigmentation

[DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118-015230 | Richard A. Sturm and David L. Duffy | Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics | 2019]

Provides a genomic framework for understanding pigmentation while identifying regulatory variation and complex genetic interactions as important unresolved areas.

Skin Pigmentation Genetics for the Clinic

[DOI: 10.1159/000468538 | Stephen A. Ainger et al. | Dermatology | 2017]

Examines how rapidly expanding pigmentation genetics can eventually be translated into clinical diagnosis and individualized approaches to pigmentary disease.

Melanosomes, Intracellular Trafficking, and Pigment Clearance

OCA2 Deficiency Enhances TPC2 Channel Activity to Reduce Melanosomal pH and Pigment Production

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.12.011 | Yizhen Wang et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2026]

Connects OCA2 and TPC2 ion-channel activity with melanosomal pH and demonstrates how interactions between pigmentation genes can produce complex phenotypes.

Melanin Metabolism: A Novel Oxidative Degradation Mechanism and Regulation by Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein

[PMID 41742231 | Xinyi Zhao et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2026]

Investigates chemical degradation of melanin itself rather than inhibition of its synthesis, broadening possible strategies for pigment modulation.

Circadian Clock Regulates Epidermal Endocrine System in Homeostatic Skin Pigmentation

[PMID 42272107 | Anya Zhu et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2026]

Links circadian biology with epidermal hormone signaling and pigment homeostasis, introducing time-of-day regulation as a pigmentation research frontier.

The Incorporation of Melanosomes by Senescent Keratinocytes Causes the Accumulation of Melanin Due to Decreased Energy Metabolism

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13219 | Hiroko Yamazaki and Hideya Ando | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Links cellular senescence, energy metabolism, and incomplete melanin processing, potentially explaining age-associated pigment accumulation.

Significant Role of Autophagy in Melanosomal Degradation of Dermal Macrophages: Therapeutic Insight Regarding Hyperpigmentation with Uncertain Etiology

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.09.007 | Kisumi Takiguchi et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Extends pigmentation research beyond melanocytes and keratinocytes by examining how macrophages clear pigment within the dermis.

Regulation of Melanogenesis via Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Autophagy by 3,3,5-Trimethylcyclohexyl Succinate Dimethylamide and Tranexamic Acid

[PMID 41046159 | Authors et al. | International Journal of Biological Macromolecules | 2025]

Shows simultaneous degradation of tyrosinase and melanosomes through proteasomal and autophagic mechanisms.

Melanosome Transport and Processing in Skin Pigmentation: Mechanisms and Targets for Pigmentation Modulation

[DOI: 10.3390/ijms26178630 | Mengjing Bao, Mathias Gempeler and Remo Campiche | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2025]

Shifts attention beyond melanin synthesis toward melanosome transport, intercellular transfer, and degradation as potential therapeutic targets.

Functional and Morphological Plasticity of the Endolysosomal System: Pigment Organelles at the Crossroads of Physiology and Pathology

[DOI: 10.1111/boc.70036 | Laura Salavessa et al. | Biology of the Cell | 2025]

Places melanosomes within the wider endolysosomal system and points toward organelle plasticity as a link between normal pigmentation and disease.

Emerging Perspectives on the Selective Autophagy of Melanosomes: Melanophagy

[DOI: 10.1038/s12276-025-01581-3 | Na Yeon Park et al. | Experimental & Molecular Medicine | 2025]

Reviews melanophagy as an emerging mechanism for controlling pigment levels and proposes organelle clearance as an alternative therapeutic target.

Deciphering Melanophagy: Role of the PTK2-ITCH-MLANA-OPTN Cascade on Melanophagy in Melanocytes

[PMID 39477686 | Na Yeon Park et al. | Autophagy | 2025]

Defines a molecular cascade that tags melanosomes for selective autophagic destruction.

Two-Pore Channel 2 Is Required for Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase-Dependent Regulation of Melanosomal pH and Melanin Synthesis

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13177 | Dalee Zhou et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Establishes TPC2 as a regulator of melanosomal pH, highlighting ion transport and organelle physiology as important pigmentation research frontiers.

The Effect of Oxidative Degradation of Dopa-Melanin on Its Basic Physicochemical Properties and Photoreactivity

[PMID 38803190 | Krystian Mokrzyński et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Examines how oxidation alters melanin structure and photochemical behavior and may help clarify changes in pigment function during aging and environmental exposure.

The Amino Acid Transporter SLC16A10 Promotes Melanogenesis by Facilitating the Transportation of Phenylalanine

[PMID 39171634 | Liping Luo et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Identifies nutrient transport as a pigmentation-control mechanism and connects cellular amino-acid availability with melanin synthesis.

RCHY1 and OPTN Are Required for Melanophagy, Selective Autophagy of Melanosomes

[PMID: 38536750 | Ki Won Lee et al. | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | 2024]

Identifies molecular machinery involved in selective melanosome degradation and establishes melanophagy as a distinct pigmentation-regulatory process.

Methylanthranilate, a Food Fragrance Attenuates Skin Pigmentation Through Downregulation of Melanogenic Enzymes by cAMP Suppression

[PMID 38296651 | Heui-Jin Park et al. | Biomolecules & Therapeutics | 2024]

Identifies suppression of cAMP signaling, melanogenic genes, dendrites, and melanosome transfer as complementary routes for reducing pigment.

Melanin Accumulation in Acanthotic Seborrheic Keratosis: Reduced Proliferation and Early Differentiation of Keratinocytes and Increased Number of Melanocytes

[PMID 39005203 | Mizuki Ueno et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Investigates how altered keratinocyte differentiation and melanocyte abundance contribute to pigment accumulation in seborrheic keratoses.

Lotus Sprout Extract Induces Selective Melanosomal Autophagy and Reduces Pigmentation

[PMID 39305105 | Authors et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2024]

Shows that pigment can be reduced by selectively degrading melanosomes without directly suppressing melanogenic gene expression.

Enhanced MC1R-Signalling and pH Modulation Facilitate Melanogenesis Within Late Endosomes of BLOC-1-Deficient Melanocytes

[PMID 39026869 | Authors et al. | bioRxiv / PubMed Preprint | 2024]

Suggests that endolysosomal compartments can partially substitute for defective melanosomes when their signaling and pH are experimentally modified.

The Potential Role of Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Melanogenesis

[PMID 37846904 | Shuaishuai Hu and Lu Wang | Experimental Dermatology | 2023]

Highlights post-translational protein control as an emerging layer of pigmentation regulation.

NRF2 in the Epidermal Pigmentary System

[PMID 36671405 | Tatsuya Ogawa and Yosuke Ishitsuka | Biomolecules | 2023]

Reviews redox regulation of pigmentation and highlights interactions between melanocytes, keratinocytes, oxidative stress, and NRF2 signaling.

Melanin's Journey from Melanocytes to Keratinocytes: Uncovering the Molecular Mechanisms of Melanin Transfer and Processing

[DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411289 | Liliana Bento-Lopes et al. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2023]

Reviews poorly understood mechanisms governing pigment transfer and processing after melanin leaves the melanocyte.

A Comprehensive Review of Mammalian Pigmentation: Paving the Way for Innovative Hair Colour-Changing Cosmetics

[PMID 36829566 | Bruno Fernandes et al. | Biology | 2023]

Reviews biological control of hair pigmentation and considers how mechanistic discoveries could eventually enable biologically driven hair-color modulation.

Temporal Analysis of Melanogenesis Identifies Fatty Acid Metabolism as Key Skin Pigment Regulator

[PMID 35584084 | Farina Sultan et al. | PLOS Biology | 2022]

Uses time-resolved molecular profiling to uncover lipid metabolism as an important regulator of melanocyte pigmentation.

Shining Light on Autophagy in Skin Pigmentation and Pigmentary Disorders

[DOI: 10.3390/cells11192999 | Daniela Kovacs et al. | Cells | 2022]

Links autophagy with melanogenesis, melanosome turnover, vitiligo, melasma, and lentigines and suggests multiple new intervention pathways.

The Role of Autophagy in Skin Pigmentation

[PMID 33262098 | Authors et al. | European Journal of Pharmacology | 2021]

Reviews the intersection between melanosome formation, autophagic pathways, melanocyte homeostasis, and pigmentary disease.

Ursolic Acid Inhibits Pigmentation by Increasing Melanosomal Autophagy in B16F1 Cells

[PMID 32792197 | Authors et al. | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 2020]

Provides experimental evidence that pharmacologic activation of melanophagy can reduce accumulated pigment.

SLC45A2 Protein Stability and Regulation of Melanosome pH Determine Melanocyte Pigmentation

[PMID 32966160 | Authors et al. | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 2020]

Demonstrates that pigmentation-associated SLC45A2 alleles differ in protein stability and influence the pH environment required for melanogenesis.

Melasolv Induces Melanosome Autophagy to Inhibit Pigmentation in B16F1 Cells

[PMID 32941497 | Authors et al. | PLOS ONE | 2020]

Demonstrates that depigmentation can be achieved by promoting melanosome degradation rather than inhibiting melanin synthesis.

Autophagy Induction Can Regulate Skin Pigmentation by Causing Melanosome Degradation in Keratinocytes and Melanocytes

[PMID 31659857 | Authors et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2020]

Demonstrates that autophagy-mediated pigment removal occurs in both melanocytes and recipient keratinocytes.

Melanin Metabolism, Molecular Signaling, and Pigment Chemistry

New Insights Into Advanced Glycation End Products Induced Melanogenesis and Intervention Strategies

[PMID 41118451 | Xi Yang et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2025]

Connects glycation and metabolic aging with melanogenesis and investigates mechanisms that may contribute to age-associated pigmentation.

FUNDC1-Dependent Mitochondrial-ER Membranes Mediate Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Melanocyte Damage under Oxidative Stress

[DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.08.027 | Jingjing Ma et al. | Free Radical Biology and Medicine | 2025]

Connects organelle interactions and mitochondrial stress with melanocyte injury, expanding research into metabolic causes of pigment-cell dysfunction.

CPT1B-Mediated Fatty Acid Oxidation Induces Pigmentation in Solar Lentigo

[Author: Yueun Choi et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Identifies fatty-acid oxidation as a contributor to pigmentation, supporting growing interest in metabolic control of acquired hyperpigmentation.

An Overview of Benefits and Risks of Chronic Melanocortin-1 Receptor Activation

[DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20269 | Markus Böhm et al. | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology | 2025]

Examines sustained MC1R signaling as a therapeutic strategy while highlighting questions surrounding long-term pigmentation and systemic effects.

The Metabolism of Melanin Synthesis—From Melanocytes to Melanoma

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13165 | Marelize Snyman et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Frames melanogenesis as a metabolic process involving mitochondria, redox balance, amino acids, glucose, lipids, and multiple intracellular compartments.

Interactions of Melanin with Electromagnetic Radiation: From Fundamentals to Applications

[PMID: 38758918 | Wanjie Xie et al. | Chemical Reviews | 2024]

Examines the optical, chemical, and photophysical properties of melanin, creating opportunities for research spanning biology, materials science, and photomedicine.

Emerging Roles of MITF as a Crucial Regulator of Immunity

[Author: Aram Lee, Jihyun Lim and Jong-Seok Lim | Experimental & Molecular Medicine | 2024]

Expands MITF research beyond melanocyte differentiation and pigmentation toward interactions between pigment-cell transcriptional programs and immunity.

The Biochemistry of Melanogenesis: An Insight into the Function and Mechanism of Melanogenesis-Related Proteins

[DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1440187 | Feifei Wang et al. | Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences | 2024]

Reviews molecular components of melanogenesis and highlights protein interactions that remain potential targets for mechanistic studies.

A Review of Therapies for Hyperpigmentation Modulating the Synthesis of Eumelanin to Pheomelanin

[DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03411-4 | Imaan K. Singh et al. | Archives of Dermatological Research | 2024]

Explores modulation of pigment composition rather than simply total melanin production as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Targeting Tyrosinase in Hyperpigmentation: Current Status, Limitations and Future Promises

[DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115574 | Samaneh Zolghadri et al. | Biochemical Pharmacology | 2023]

Reviews the dominant tyrosinase-targeting strategy while emphasizing the need for more selective inhibitors and alternative pigmentation pathways.

Biology of Melanocytes in Mammals

[DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1309557 | Ying-Zhe Cui and Xiao-Yong Man | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology | 2023]

Integrates melanocyte development, signaling, melanin production, transfer, immunity, and disease into a broader cellular research framework.

Melanocyte Stem Cells, Hair Pigmentation, Organoids, and Regeneration

Skin Pressing: An Easy and Reliable Method to Induce Acute Hair Greying in Mice and Useful for Studying Canities

[PMID 40488795 | Authors et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Introduces a reproducible experimental model for inducing localized hair graying and studying melanocyte stem-cell loss.

Regenerative Hair Pigmentation via Skin Organoids: Adaptive Patterning Mediated by Collagen VI and Semaphorin 3C

[DOI: 10.1002/advs.202502436 | Tingting Li et al. | Advanced Science | 2025]

Uses organoid systems to investigate how extracellular signals establish hair pigmentation patterns and regenerative pigment-cell behavior.

Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors Increase Pigment Cell Proliferation and Melanization in Cultured Melanocytes and Within a 3-Dimensional Skin Equivalent Model

[PMID 39182565 | Nathaniel B. Goldstein et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Demonstrates increased melanocyte proliferation and pigmentation in a human-relevant 3D skin model, suggesting possible repigmentation strategies.

Mouse Tail-Skin Dissociation and Preparation of Live Single-Cell Suspension for Downstream Analysis of Melanocytes

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13216 | Vipin Shankar Chelakkot et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Provides methodology enabling single-cell studies of melanocytes and other skin populations, supporting increasingly detailed cellular atlases.

Mitochondrial Deoxyguanosine Kinase Depletion Induced ROS Causes Melanocyte Stem Cell Exhaustion and Hair Greying

[PMID 40522608 | Kaiyao Zhou et al. | Cell Regeneration | 2025]

Links mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress directly to melanocyte stem-cell depletion and hair graying.

Melanocyte Dysfunctions: Future and Promise of Stem Cells

[DOI: 10.62347/EOIC7075 | Sharique A. Ali, Gulafsha Kassab and Tasneem Husain | American Journal of Stem Cells | 2025]

Reviews stem-cell strategies for replacing or repairing dysfunctional melanocytes in pigmentary disorders.

Development of In Vitro Hair Pigmentation Model Using Hair Follicle Organoids

[PMID 39672752 | Authors et al. | Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering | 2025]

Develops a hair-follicle organoid system in which pigmentation genes and pigment transfer can be studied under controlled laboratory conditions.

Antagonistic Stem Cell Fates Under Stress Govern Decisions Between Hair Greying and Melanoma

[PMID 41053225 | Authors et al. | Nature Cell Biology | 2025]

Shows that melanocyte stem cells can follow opposing stress-induced trajectories toward depletion or expansion, connecting aging biology with melanoma prevention.

Therapeutic Modulation of KIT Ligand in Melanocytic Disorders With Implications for Mast Cell Diseases

[PMID 38711220 | Alec Sevilla and James Grichnik | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Explores KIT ligand as a therapeutic axis linking melanocyte growth, pigmentation disorders, and other KIT-dependent cell populations.

Molecular Heterogeneity of Quiescent Melanocyte Stem Cells Revealed by Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing

[PMID 38613320 | Joseph W. Palmer et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Uses single-cell RNA sequencing to identify previously unrecognized heterogeneity among resting melanocyte stem cells.

Melanocytes in Regenerative Medicine Applications and Disease Modeling

[DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05113-x | Kelly Coutant et al. | Journal of Translational Medicine | 2024]

Reviews stem cells, tissue engineering, spheroids, extracellular vesicles, and engineered melanocytes as emerging research and therapeutic tools.

Melanocyte Stem Cells in the Skin: Origin, Biological Characteristics, Homeostatic Maintenance and Therapeutic Potential

[DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1720 | Luling Huang et al. | Clinical and Translational Medicine | 2024]

Highlights single-cell sequencing, CRISPR, niche biology, and regenerative approaches as key technologies for studying melanocyte stem cells.

Enhanced Quality of hESC-Derived Melanocytes Through Modified Concentration of Endothelin-1

[PMID 38284190 | Xuanhao Zeng et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Refines protocols for deriving functional melanocytes from human embryonic stem cells, supporting regenerative and disease-modeling applications.

Development of Physiologically Relevant Skin Organoids from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

[DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304879 | Abbas Shafiee et al. | Small | 2024]

Produces complex human skin organoids containing pigmented hair follicles and other appendages for development, disease modeling, and regenerative research.

Melanocyte Stem Cells and Hair Graying

[DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15652 | Xiaojiao Zhang et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2023]

Reviews melanocyte stem-cell depletion and differentiation as central mechanisms of graying and identifies unresolved regulatory pathways.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reprogramming Overcomes Technical Limitations for Highly Pigmented Adult Melanocyte Amplification and Integration in 3D Skin Model

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13077 | Catherine Cohen et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2023]

Demonstrates how iPSC technology can generate melanocytes and improve physiologically relevant three-dimensional pigmentation models.

Dedifferentiation Maintains Melanocyte Stem Cells in a Dynamic Niche

[DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05960-6 | Qi Sun et al. | Nature | 2023]

Reveals that melanocyte stem cells move between differentiation states and suggests that manipulating stem-cell mobility could influence hair graying.

BMI1 Is Required for Melanocyte Stem Cell Maintenance and Hair Pigmentation

[PMID 37132544 | Molly M. Wilson et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2023]

Establishes a role for BMI1 in maintaining melanocyte stem-cell populations and preserving hair pigmentation.

Applications of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skin Organoids in Dermatology

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.017 | Aaron Gabriel W. Sandoval et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2023]

Describes skin organoids containing melanocytes as platforms for developmental studies, drug screening, disease modeling, and potentially transplantation.

Tissue Microenvironment, Cell Communication, and Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation

Fibroblast-Directed Melanocyte Recruitment via Cxcl12-Cxcr4 Axis Promotes Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation and Skin Barrier Protection in Zebrafish

[PMID 41765345 | Authors et al. | Journal of Genetics and Genomics | 2026]

Shows that fibroblasts can actively recruit melanocytes after injury and suggests that persistent PIH may reflect altered cell positioning as well as increased melanogenesis.

The Influence of Melanoma Extracellular Vesicles on Benign Melanocytes: A Role for PRAME in Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.10.612 | Xiaochen Liu et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Demonstrates communication between malignant and normal melanocytic cells through extracellular vesicles and tumor-associated signaling.

Research Progress on Pathogenesis of Skin Pigmentation in Chronic Liver Disease

[PMID 39689154 | Tianqi Liu et al. | Biomolecules and Biomedicine | 2025]

Reviews endocrine, metabolic, and systemic pathways that may alter pigmentation in chronic disease and suggests opportunities for studying skin color as a systemic biomarker.

Emerging Roles of Dermal Fibroblasts in Hyperpigmentation and Hypopigmentation: A Review

[DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16790 | Xingyue Gao and Wenzhong Xiang | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2025]

Positions fibroblast-derived cytokines and extracellular matrix as potential targets for both excess and deficient pigmentation.

Engineering Liposomes with Cell Membrane Proteins to Disrupt Melanosome Transfer between Cells

[DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c02767 | Chunhuan Liu et al. | ACS Nano | 2025]

Applies bioengineered nanoparticles to manipulate melanosome transfer, illustrating a new intersection between pigmentation biology and nanotechnology.

Crosstalk in Skin: Loss of Desmoglein 1 in Keratinocytes Inhibits BRAFV600E-Induced Cellular Senescence in Human Melanocytes

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.10.608 | Xin Tong et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Shows how keratinocyte proteins can influence melanocyte behavior, illustrating the importance of epithelial control of pigment-cell states.

Beyond the Skin Surface: Melanocyte Biology and the Spectrum of Health Inequities

[PMID 40778897 | Authors et al. | Journal Article | 2025]

Reviews how pigmentation influences disease presentation, diagnosis, research inclusion, and the performance of clinical tools across skin tones.

YAP Prevents Senescence of Dermal Fibroblast and Inhibits Melanogenesis via Paracrine Effect of DKK1

[DOI: 10.1111/exd.15093 | Tong Li et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Demonstrates a pathway through which fibroblast aging can alter neighboring melanocyte activity through paracrine signaling.

The Yucatan Miniature Swine as a Model for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

[PMID 38361478 | Ying Wang et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Develops a large-animal PIH model with skin properties closer to humans than conventional rodent systems.

miRNA Profiling of B16F10 Melanoma Cell Exosomes Reveals Melanin Synthesis-Related Genes

[DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30474 | Gyeongchan Jeon et al. | Heliyon | 2024]

Identifies extracellular-vesicle microRNAs linked with pigmentation pathways and supports investigation of vesicle-mediated communication.

Emerging Role of Fibroblasts in Vitiligo: A Formerly Underestimated Rising Star

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.02.007 | Yue Wu et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2024]

Highlights fibroblast secretomes, senescence, metabolism, extracellular matrix, and autophagy as contributors to melanocyte survival and depigmentation.

Effects of EGFR-TKI on Epidermal Melanin Unit Integrity: Therapeutic Implications for Hypopigmented Skin Disorders

[PMID 38705722 | Ping Xu et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Shows that modifying keratinocyte EGFR signaling can influence melanocyte proliferation and pigmentation through paracrine factors.

Dangerous Liaisons: Loss of Keratinocyte Control over Melanocytes in Melanomagenesis

[DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400135 | Kathleen J. Green, Jenny Pokorny and Brieanna Jarrell | BioEssays | 2024]

Reviews how disruption of normal keratinocyte–melanocyte communication may contribute to transformation and melanoma development.

Characteristics of Dermal Vascularity in Melasma and Solar Lentigo

[DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12953 | Yusuke Hara and Takako Shibata | Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine | 2024]

Examines vascular changes accompanying hyperpigmentation and supports broader study of the dermal environment rather than melanocytes alone.

Skin Pigmentation Types, Causes and Treatment—A Review

[PMID 37375394 | Amin Mahmood Thawabteh et al. | Molecules | 2023]

Surveys genetic, hormonal, environmental, inflammatory, and pharmaceutical causes of altered pigmentation and areas needing improved treatment.

Melanocyte-Keratinocyte Cross-Talk in Vitiligo

[DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1176781 | Ahmed Ahmed Touni et al. | Frontiers in Medicine | 2023]

Reviews reciprocal melanocyte–keratinocyte signaling and shows why pigmentation increasingly needs to be studied as a multicellular tissue system.

Human Skin Pigmentation: From a Biological Feature to a Social Determinant

[PMID 37510532 | Authors et al. | Healthcare | 2023]

Connects pigmentation biology with clinical representation and health disparities, underscoring the importance of diverse recruitment in future pigmentation research.

Disorders of Hyperpigmentation. Part I. Pathogenesis and Clinical Features of Common Pigmentary Disorders

[PMID 35151757 | Rebecca F. Wang et al. | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | 2023]

Provides a mechanistic framework for distinguishing common hyperpigmentation disorders and identifying pathways suitable for targeted research.

A Focused Review on the Pathophysiology of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

[PMID 35306737 | Authors et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2022]

Highlights inflammatory mediators, growth factors, melanocyte activation, and epithelial-mesenchymal communication as potential PIH treatment targets.

UV, Visible Light, Photobiology, and Environmental Pigment Triggers

Visible Light Induces Skin Darkening In Vivo: Comparative Pilot Studies Reveal Enhanced Susceptibility in Melasma and Its Mitigation by a Human Tyrosinase Inhibitor

[DOI: 10.1007/s43630-025-00844-2 | Tobias Mann et al. | Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences | 2026]

Demonstrates measurable visible-light pigmentation in vivo and suggests that melasma lesions may respond differently from surrounding skin.

Melanin-Driven Delayed CPD Formation Is Independent of Melanin Biosynthesis Pathway

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.09.011 | Vipin K. Yadav et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2026]

Investigates delayed DNA photoproduct formation associated with melanin and adds complexity to conventional models of pigment-mediated photoprotection.

Global Consensus on the Management of Melanin Hyperpigmentation Disorders

[PMID 41362125 | International Expert Panel | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology | 2026]

Highlights personalized treatment, visible-light protection, skin microenvironment biology, and better representation of different skin phototypes.

Visible Light-Induced Pigmentation: Improved In Vivo Methodology for Measuring Efficacy of 30 Products in 9 Randomised Controlled Trials

[DOI: 10.1111/exd.70167 | Pascale Renoux et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Develops improved experimental approaches for quantifying visible-light pigmentation and evaluating interventions under controlled exposure.

Understanding Mechanisms and Key Factors Influencing Melanogenesis for the Management of Melasma: An Updated Review

[PMID 38738729 | Niraj Kumar Singh et al. | Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 2025]

Integrates hormonal, inflammatory, age-related, ultraviolet, and intracellular signaling influences on melasma.

Tranexamic Acid Inhibits 17β-Estradiol-Induced Melanogenesis Through PKA-CREB-MITF Pathway

[PMID 41392597 | Yu Jeong Bae et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Examines how hormone-driven melanogenesis can be suppressed at the intracellular signaling level.

The Pigmentation of Blue Light Is Mediated by Both Melanogenesis Activation and Autophagy Inhibition through OPN3-TRPV1

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.07.034 | Eunbi Yu et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Links blue-light sensing with OPN3, TRPV1, melanogenesis, and autophagy, creating mechanistic targets for future photobiology studies.

Prolonged DNA Damage at Suberythemal UV Dose—Dependency on Skin Type and Age

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113206 | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz et al. | Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B | 2025]

Examines differences in DNA damage and repair across pigmentation and age groups and highlights the need for larger diverse photobiology cohorts.

Blue Light-Induced Pigmentation

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.09.015 | Indermeet Kohli and Henry W. Lim | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Discusses growing evidence that visible blue wavelengths contribute to pigmentation and deserve greater attention in photoprotection research.

The Whitening Efficacy of a Compound Formula Examined Using an Ultraviolet-Induced Skin Melanization Model

[PMID 38664985 | Xiaohong Shu et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2024]

Uses controlled UV-induced pigmentation as an experimental platform for quantitatively testing pigmentation interventions.

Significance of Melanin Distribution in the Epidermis for the Protective Effect against UV Light

[DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53941-0 | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz et al. | Scientific Reports | 2024]

Demonstrates that where melanin is positioned within epidermal tissue can be as important as total pigment concentration for photoprotection.

Prevention and Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Disorders

[PMID 39124579 | Ziad Khamaysi and Badea Jiryis | Journal of Clinical Medicine | 2024]

Surveys evolving approaches to preventing and treating hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation and highlights the need for mechanism-specific therapy.

Efficacy and Tolerability of a Depigmenting Gel Serum Comprising Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, 4-Butylresorcinol, Phytic Acid, and Hydroxy Acids

[PMID 38549196 | Marta Furmanczyk et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2024]

Evaluates a combination strategy designed to target multiple stages of melanogenesis rather than relying on a single pigment pathway.

Drug-Induced Pigmentation: A Review

[PMID 39085684 | Aaron Tisack and Tasneem F. Mohammad | Drugs | 2024]

Reviews numerous medications capable of altering pigmentation and identifies drug-associated pigmentation as an important source of mechanistic insight.

Blue Light Effects on the Skin: A Post-2015 Update

[DOI: 10.36849/JDD.7665 | Lauren Pupa, Ida F. Orengo and Ted Rosen | Journal of Drugs in Dermatology | 2024]

Reviews evolving evidence on blue-light exposure and highlights unresolved questions regarding real-world doses, pigment response, and chronic effects.

Unveiling the Mystery of Riehl's Melanosis: An Update From Pathogenesis, Diagnosis to Treatment

[PMID 37401632 | Yuecen Ding et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2023]

Reviews an acquired hyperpigmentation disorder in which immune, environmental, and pigmentary mechanisms remain incompletely resolved.

Sustained Pigmentation Causes DNA Damage and Invokes Translesion Polymerase Polκ for Repair in Melanocytes

[PMID: 37697436 | Authors et al. | Nucleic Acids Research | 2023]

Shows that active melanogenesis can itself create genotoxic stress and identifies DNA-repair responses that may connect pigmentation with mutagenesis.

Oxidative Stress Induces Skin Pigmentation in Melasma by Inhibiting Hedgehog Signaling

[PMID 38001823 | Authors et al. | Antioxidants | 2023]

Links oxidative stress, primary cilia, Hedgehog signaling, keratinocyte differentiation, and melanosome transfer in melasma.

The Emerging Role of Visible Light in Melanocyte Biology and Skin Pigmentary Disorders: Friend or Foe?

[DOI: 10.3390/jcm12237488 | Xuanxuan He et al. | Journal of Clinical Medicine | 2023]

Reviews wavelength-specific visible-light effects and identifies major gaps concerning photoreceptors, oxidative signaling, pigmentation, and photoprotection.

Mechanisms of Ultraviolet-Induced Melasma Formation: A Review

[PMID 35946331 | Jian Yang et al. | Journal of Dermatology | 2022]

Reviews how ultraviolet radiation alters pigment metabolism, oxidative stress, skin-barrier biology, neural signaling, and dermal components in melasma.

Pigmentary Disorders, Melasma, Vitiligo, and Precision Treatment

Revealing Biological Mechanisms of Skin Pigment Recovery During Treatment in Vitiligo Patients: A Proteomic Analysis

[PMID 42235790 | Emma Holtappels et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2026]

Uses proteomics during treatment to identify molecular changes accompanying successful pigment recovery.

Biomarker Dynamics in Vitiligo: Uncovering Predictors of Repigmentation

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.08.029 | Reinhart Speeckaert | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2026]

Highlights biomarker research aimed at predicting which patients and lesions will respond to repigmentation therapy.

A Hairless Mouse Model for Vitiligo: Enhancing Preclinical Therapeutic Evaluation

[PMID 40701402 | Ken Okamura et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2026]

Introduces a model designed to make visible repigmentation easier to quantify during preclinical drug testing.

Vitiligo and Epigenetics: From Pathogenesis to Clinical Applications

[PMID 41248908 | Huimin He and Tao Wang | Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Reviews DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA, and other epigenetic mechanisms as possible biomarkers and treatment targets.

Targeted Therapies Induced Depigmentation: A Review

[DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1625738 | Wang Z. et al. | Frontiers in Immunology | 2025]

Uses treatment-associated depigmentation to illuminate immune and molecular pathways shared by melanocyte destruction, vitiligo, and cancer therapy.

Promoting Repigmentation after Epidermal-Cell Suspension Grafting and Preventing the Loss of Melanocytes Using Topical Ruxolitinib for Vitiligo in Resistant Areas

[DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljaf143 | Pierre-Michel Dugourd et al. | British Journal of Dermatology | 2025]

Investigates combining cell transplantation with targeted immune therapy to improve durable repigmentation in difficult-to-treat vitiligo.

Pathogenesis of Melasma Explained

[DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17718 | Lara Ali and Firas Al-Niaimi | International Journal of Dermatology | 2025]

Reviews melasma as a multifactorial tissue disorder involving melanocytes, vasculature, inflammation, dermal changes, and environmental exposure.

Escherichia Abundance and Metabolism Align With Vitiligo Disease Activity

[PMID 39983982 | Zhussipbek Mukhatayev et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Links microbial composition and metabolic activity with vitiligo severity, suggesting a potential microbiome component in pigment-cell autoimmunity.

Deciphering Depigmentation: Mouse Models for Vitiligo Research

[PMID 40704943 | Tyler J. Long et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Reviews and compares animal models for investigating melanocyte autoimmunity and testing emerging vitiligo therapies.

Between Light and Shadow: The Enigma of Nonlesional Skin in Vitiligo

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.02.011 | Yijian Zhu and Chengfeng Zhang | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Draws attention to molecular abnormalities outside visible vitiligo lesions, suggesting disease research should include apparently normal skin.

Vitiligo Non-Responding Lesions to Narrow Band UVB Have Intriguing Cellular and Molecular Abnormalities That May Prevent Epidermal Repigmentation

[PMID 38343115 | Nathaniel B. Goldstein et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Compares treatment-resistant lesions with responding skin to identify cellular barriers to repigmentation.

Understanding Melasma: From Pathogenesis to Innovative Treatments

[DOI: 10.1155/2024/2206130 | Zheng et al. | Dermatologic Therapy | 2024]

Links expanding knowledge of melasma biology with emerging therapeutic approaches intended to address multiple pathogenic pathways.

Target Area Treatment Ratio of Varied Lesions in the Cultured Pure Melanocyte Transplantation Repigmentation of Vitiligo

[PMID 38895831 | Fuquan Lin et al. | Journal of Dermatology | 2024]

Examines how transplanted melanocytes repopulate different lesion types and provides practical information for optimizing cell-based treatment.

Research Progress of Vitiligo Repigmentation: From Oxidative Stress to Autoimmunity

[Author: Tingting Yu, Yan Wu and Zhenzhong Lu | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 2024]

Reviews mechanisms connecting oxidative injury, immune responses, melanocyte destruction, and repigmentation as targets for new treatments.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: A Systematic Review of Treatment Outcomes

[DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19566 | N. Kashetsky, A. Feschuk and M. E. Pratt | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology | 2024]

Evaluates existing PIH treatments and exposes important evidence gaps for future comparative trials and research across diverse skin tones.

Photobiomodulation for Melasma Treatment: Integrative Review and State of the Art

[DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12935 | Thais Rodrigues Galache et al. | Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine | 2024]

Reviews light-based modulation of pigmentation and identifies parameters requiring better mechanistic studies and standardized clinical trials.

Membranal Expression of Calreticulin Induced by Unfolded Protein Response in Melanocytes: A Mechanism Underlying Oxidative Stress-Induced Autoimmunity in Vitiligo

[PMID 38246583 | Pu Song et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2024]

Links melanocyte endoplasmic-reticulum stress with immune recognition and provides a mechanism connecting oxidative damage to autoimmunity.

Conventional Suspension Delivery Versus Tattooing Pen-Assisted Suspension Delivery in Non-Cultured Epidermal Cell Suspension Procedure for Vitiligo

[PMID 39030934 | Akshay Meena et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Tests improved methods for placing pigment-producing cells into depigmented skin and refining surgical repigmentation techniques.

Combining Large-Spot Low-Fluence 1064-nm and Fractional 1064-nm Picosecond Lasers for Promoting Protective Melanosome Autophagy

[DOI: 10.1111/exd.15094 | Jie Shen et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Investigates whether laser treatment can modify melanosome autophagy, linking physical treatments with intracellular pigment-clearance mechanisms.

Acceleration of Melanocyte Senescence by the Proinflammatory Cytokines IFNγ and TNFα Impairs the Repigmentation Response of Vitiligo Patients to Narrowband UVB Phototherapy

[PMID 36731753 | Authors et al. | Mechanisms of Ageing and Development | 2023]

Shows that inflammatory cytokines can drive melanocyte senescence and reduce responsiveness to phototherapy.

Skin Color Measurement, Imaging, and Artificial Intelligence

Skin Tone in Hyperspectral Imaging and Its Implications for Fairness in AI

[DOI: 10.1002/jbio.70254 | Laurie S. van de Weerd et al. | Journal of Biophotonics | 2026]

Shows that skin pigmentation can act as a confounder in hyperspectral AI systems and argues for diverse datasets and explicit fairness evaluation.

QUILPEN Provides Independent and Label-Free Single-Cell Quantification of Pigmentation Dynamics and Organelle Content

[PMID 41279731 | R. G. Zitnay et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2026]

Introduces multimodal label-free imaging for directly measuring pigment content in living individual cells, enabling dynamic studies linking pigmentation to cell state.

Enhancing the Reliability of Skin Tone Evaluation: A Study of Full-Face Imaging Devices With Colour Calibration

[PMID 41766450 | Authors et al. | International Journal of Cosmetic Science | 2026]

Examines calibration differences between imaging systems and shows how color standards can improve reproducibility in pigmentation trials and longitudinal studies.

Beyond Fitzpatrick: Automated Artificial Intelligence-Based Skin Tone Analysis in Dermatological Patients

[PMID 40537526 | Paul Ulrich et al. | npj Digital Medicine | 2025-06-20]

Introduces automated image-based skin-tone assessment using CIELAB measurements and highlights the movement toward continuous rather than subjective pigmentation classification.

Representations of Skin Tone and Sex in Dermatology by Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study

[DOI: 10.1093/ced/llaf126 | Goranit Sakunchotpanit et al. | Clinical and Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Finds substantial skin-tone imbalance in AI-generated dermatologic imagery and highlights dataset representation as a future research priority.

Modulation of Melanocyte in Melasma Patients After Picosecond Laser Treatment

[PMID 39282999 | Ching-Li Chen et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2025]

Uses optical coherence tomography to visualize melanin and melanocyte changes in vivo before and after laser treatment.

Hyperspectral Imaging Combined With Machine Learning Methods to Quantify the Facial Skin Melanin and Erythema

[PMID 40968487 | Authors et al. | Journal of Biophotonics | 2025]

Combines spectral imaging with machine learning to estimate melanin and erythema across the face, demonstrating a route toward noninvasive spatial pigmentation mapping.

Computer-Aided Assessment of Repigmentation Rates in Vitiligo Patients: Implications for Treatment Efficacy

[PMID 38909840 | Zheng Wang et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Uses computerized image analysis to quantify vitiligo repigmentation and illustrates how automated outcome measurement may improve clinical trials.

AI-Generated Dermatologic Images Show Deficient Skin Tone Diversity and Poor Diagnostic Accuracy: An Experimental Study

[DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20849 | Lucie Joerg et al. | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology | 2025]

Tests generative AI in dermatology and raises concerns about whether synthetic medical imagery adequately represents pigmentation diversity.

Which Skin Tone Measures Are the Most Inclusive? An Investigation of Skin Tone Measures for Artificial Intelligence

[DOI: 10.1145/3632120 | Courtney M. Heldreth et al. | ACM Journal on Responsible Computing | 2024]

Compares commonly used skin-tone scales and demonstrates why more representative measurement systems are needed for machine-learning research.

Skin Tone Estimation under Diverse Lighting Conditions

[DOI: 10.3390/jimaging10050109 | Success K. Mbatha et al. | Journal of Imaging | 2024]

Investigates computerized skin-tone estimation under varying illumination, a fundamental challenge for standardized photography and automated pigmentation research.

Skin Cancer Machine Learning Model Tone Bias

[Author: James Pope et al. | arXiv | 2024]

Examines how differences in skin tone can affect machine-learning systems and reinforces the need for pigmentation-aware validation of dermatologic AI.

Noninvasive Imaging Techniques for Monitoring Cellular Response to Treatment in Stable Vitiligo

[PMID 37952609 | Jessica Shiu et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2024]

Evaluates advanced optical imaging for monitoring melanocyte and tissue changes without repeated biopsies.

Integrating Skin Color Assessments into Clinical Practice and Research: A Review of Current Approaches

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.01.067 | Valerie M. Harvey et al. | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | 2024]

Finds important shortcomings in existing skin-color classifications and calls for validated, reproducible tools suitable for diverse populations.

Hyperspectral Imaging Database of Human Facial Skin

[PMID 39314060 | Authors et al. | Applied Spectroscopy | 2024]

Provides controlled hyperspectral facial data across multiple skin tones, supporting future research in optical modeling, pigmentation measurement, and machine learning.

Ensuring Appropriate Representation in Artificial Intelligence-Generated Medical Imagery: Protocol for a Methodological Approach to Address Skin Tone Bias

[Author: Andrew O'Malley et al. | JMIR AI | 2024]

Develops a methodological framework for systematically evaluating and improving representation of different skin tones in AI-generated medical images.

A Practical Classification Scale for the Dermatology Management of Individuals with Skin of Color: The Colorimetric Scale for Skin of Color

[DOI: 10.5070/D330363862 | Philip R. Cohen et al. | Dermatology Online Journal | 2024]

Proposes more objective color-based classification approaches that could improve research reporting and treatment assessment.

Generation of Skin Tone and Pigmented Region-Modified Images Using a Pigment Discrimination Model Trained With an Optical Approach

[PMID 37881042 | Geunho Jung et al. | Skin Research and Technology | 2023]

Develops an image model capable of separating skin tone from localized pigment, potentially supporting automated analysis of pigmentation disorders.

Effect of Camera Distance and Angle on Color of Diverse Skin Tone-Based Standards in Smartphone Photos

[PMID 36772956 | Authors et al. | Journal of Biophotonics | 2023]

Shows how camera geometry alters measured skin color and highlights the need for standardized smartphone imaging protocols in teledermatology and population research.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Cutaneous Colorimetry: A Reliable Technique for Objective Skin Color Measurement

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.11.003 | Bao Chau K. Ly et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2020]

Explains standardized colorimetry and spectrophotometry, providing a methodological foundation for quantitative future pigmentation research.

Albinism, Melanoma, and Emerging Translational Frontiers

Recent Advances in Albinism

[DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2025.104332 | Fanny Morice-Picard, Modibo Diallo and Benoit Arveiler | La Presse Médicale | 2026]

Reviews emerging evidence that albinism genetics and phenotypes are more complex than traditional monogenic classifications imply.

Herbal Medicine for Melanin Regulation: Biological Synthesis, Effective Formulas/Compounds, and Biopharmaceutical Methods

[PMID 41353249 | Authors et al. | Journal of Natural Medicines | 2026]

Reviews natural-product approaches while emphasizing improved formulation and drug-delivery technologies for modifying pigmentation.

Albinism: From Genetics to Cell Biology and Physiopathology

[DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2025.104333 | Modibo Diallo, Laura Salavessa, Benoit Arveiler and Cédric Delevoye | La Presse Médicale | 2026]

Integrates genetics, melanosome trafficking, ion regulation, and cell biology and highlights unresolved noncoding variants and undiscovered disease mechanisms.

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Operates as a Negative Regulator of Human Hair Follicle Pigmentation Ex Vivo

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.06.1290 | Tatiana Gomez Gomez et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Identifies neuroendocrine signaling as a regulator of hair pigmentation and opens additional avenues for studying nervous-system–pigment interactions.

The Lipid Droplet Protein DHRS3 Is a Regulator of Melanoma Cell State

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13208 | Eleanor Johns et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Connects lipid metabolism with melanocytic cell-state regulation and illustrates increasing interest in metabolic control of lineage identity.

Targeting Melanin Heterogeneity in Metastatic Melanoma: A Dual-Tumour Mouse Melanoma Model

[PMID 40898695 | Authors et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2025]

Creates matched pigmented and nonpigmented tumor models for studying how melanin affects treatment response and tumor biology.

Prospective Isolation According to Melanin Pigment Content of Melanoma Cells With Heterogeneous Potentials for Disease Propagation

[Author: Clare Fedele et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Uses pigment content to investigate functionally distinct melanoma-cell populations and links melanogenesis with tumor-cell state and behavior.

How Can Spatial Transcriptomic Profiling Advance Our Understanding of Skin Diseases?

[DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.07.006 | Girishkumar Kumaran et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2025]

Describes spatial transcriptomics as a way to retain tissue context while mapping cell states, with clear applications to melanocytes and pigmentary lesions.

Germline MC1R Variant Status and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

[Author: Muyi Yang et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2025]

Investigates whether inherited pigmentation genetics can help explain variation in melanoma treatment responses.

The Combination of Pterocarpus marsupium Bark Extract, Pinus strobus Bark Extract, and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Inhibits Melanogenesis via Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase Activation

[PMID 41408899 | Kejie Peng et al. | Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology | 2025]

Links mitochondrial redox metabolism with melanogenesis and suggests metabolic enzymes as pigmentation-control targets.

The Skin Molecular Ecosystem Holds the Key to Nevogenesis and Melanomagenesis

[PMID 37921715 | Katie J. Lee et al. | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | 2024]

Frames melanocytes as part of a complex multicellular skin ecosystem and argues that neighboring cells and extracellular signals influence melanocytic behavior.

Journey Through the Spectacular Landscape of Melanocortin 1 Receptor

[PMID 38857302 | P. R. Upadhyay et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Reviews MC1R biology beyond color alone, including DNA repair, oxidative stress, photoprotection, vitiligo, and melanoma prevention.

A Novel Professional-Use Synergistic Peel Technology to Reduce Visible Hyperpigmentation on Face: Clinical Evidence and Mechanistic Understanding by Computational Biology and Optical Biopsy

[PMID 38568090 | Authors et al. | Experimental Dermatology | 2024]

Combines clinical imaging, reflectance confocal microscopy, multiphoton tomography, microbiome analysis, and computational methods to evaluate pigment treatment at multiple biological levels.

GLMN Variants Cause Skin Hyperpigmentation: A Promising Potential Therapeutic Target

[DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljae149 | Qiaoyu Cao and Ming Li | British Journal of Dermatology | 2024]

Discusses GLMN loss-of-function variants as a newly recognized cause of generalized hyperpigmentation and a potential molecular treatment target.

Genotypic Spectrum of Albinism in Mali

[DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13175 | Modibo Diallo et al. | Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research | 2024]

Expands albinism genetics in an underrepresented West African population and demonstrates the importance of population-specific variant discovery.

The Journey from Melanocytes to Melanoma

[DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00565-7 | Patricia P. Centeno, Valeria Pavet and Richard Marais | Nature Reviews Cancer | 2023]

Reviews melanocyte developmental states and cellular plasticity, providing a framework for studying connections between normal pigmentation and melanoma.

Searching for Natural Plants With Antimelanogenesis and Antityrosinase Properties for Cosmeceutical or Nutricosmetics Applications

[PMID 37744793 | Xin Yee Tung et al. | ACS Omega | 2023]

Systematically reviews natural compounds affecting tyrosinase and melanogenesis and identifies candidates requiring stronger translational evidence.

Recent Advances and Progress on Melanin: From Source to Application

[PMID 36901791 | Lili Guo et al. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2023]

Surveys melanin chemistry, biological production, extraction, synthetic approaches, and biomedical applications beyond conventional pigmentation research.

The Melanin Inhibitory Effect of Plants and Phytochemicals: A Systematic Review

[PMID 36126406 | Danni Feng et al. | Phytomedicine | 2022]

Assesses plant-derived melanogenesis inhibitors and highlights the need for better standardization, human testing, and mechanistic validation.

Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

[PMID 36365128 | Fan Liu et al. | Pharmaceutics | 2022]

Reviews natural pigmentation modulators and emerging delivery systems intended to improve stability, penetration, and selectivity.