noun
- Plural of pheomelanin; red or yellow pigments produced by melanocytes in skin, hair, and eyes.
Usage: technical; biology; biochemistry
Examples
- Pheomelanins are responsible for the red and orange tones in human hair.
- People with high levels of pheomelanins typically have fair skin and red or blonde hair.
- The ratio of eumelanins to pheomelanins determines hair color variation.
- Pheomelanins are less effective at protecting skin from UV radiation than eumelanins.
- Genetic variations affect the production and distribution of pheomelanins in different populations.