• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Elias and Williams: The Inside-Out of Skin by dermatologists and skin researchers Peter M. Elias, M.D. and Mary L. Williams, M.D.

The Inside-Out of Skin

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • For Professsionals
  • The Story of EpiCeram®
  • Publications
  • Press Room
  • Contact Us
  • INSIDE THE SKIN BARRIER
  • SKIN DISORDERS
  • REPAIRING THE SKIN BARRIER
  • CLIMATE AND THE SKIN
  • Q&A

Slide1-Comparison-melatonin-granules-darkly-pigmented-vs-lightly-pigmented epidermis

August 3, 2015 By Mary L Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

Comparison of melanin granules in darkly pigmented (left side) vs. lightly pigmented (right side) epidermis. Drawing by Jessica Kraft

Comparison of melanin granules in darkly pigmented (left side) vs. lightly pigmented (right side) epidermis. Both skin types have the same endowment of pigment cells or melanocytes. But, the pigment granules produced by melanocytes in dark skin are larger and more numerous than those in light skin. When transferred to cells of the epidermis (keratinocytes), pigment granules in dark skin (left side) persist as the cells move towards the skin surface and some of the granules “escape” into the spaces outside the cells. In contrast in lighter skin (right side) the small granules tend to cluster over the top of the nucleus (‘nuclear cap’) where they can protect the DNA from sun damage. Very few make it into the outer skin cell layers and few of those are found outside the cells there. Drawing by Jessica Kraft.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

FOR PROFESSIONALS

  • Professionals Home Page
  • Research: From The Elias Lab
  • Research: From Around The World
  • About Elias and Williams
  • Press Room
  • Contact Elias and Williams

GET OUR SPECIAL REPORT

Elias and Williams Taking Good Care of Your Skin Guide logo

Image: "Taking Good Care of Your Skin" Special Report by Peter M. Elias, M.D. and Mary L. Williams, M.D.

This booklet offers up-to-date scientific information on how the skin works to keep us healthy and what we can do to keep our skin healthy and beautiful.

Yes, Send Me the Guide

INSIDE THE SKIN BARRIER

The Skin Microbiome: Good Bugs And The Bugs That Bug Us

January 7, 2020 By Peter M. Elias, M.D.

We hear a lot about the multitude and diversity the micro-organisms – especially the bacteria - that … Read More...

MORE FROM INSIDE THE SKIN BARRIER >>

SKIN DISORDERS

Dry Skin: Who Is At Risk and What Can Be Done About It?

December 1, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. Leave a Comment

Who is at risk? Many people are prone to develop dry skin. Examples include those who have or … Read More...

MORE FROM SKIN DISORDERS

REPAIRING THE SKIN BARRIER

The How and Why of Sensitive Skin

November 1, 2018 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. 1 Comment

An alarming percentage (about 60%) of normal adults, mostly women, self-report that they regularly … Read More...

MORE FROM REPAIRING THE SKIN BARRIER >>

CLIMATE AND THE SKIN

The Skin’s Many Barriers and Climate Change

October 9, 2020 By Mary L Williams, M.D.

Skin's Many Barriers And How Climate Change May Affect Them Skin has many barriers: it keeps us … Read More...

MORE FROM CLIMATE AND THE SKIN >>

Q & A

Q& A: Preventing Dry Skin From COVID-19 Hand Washing And Toxic Hand Sanitizers

December 1, 2020 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

Q: I have developed dry skin from COVID-19 because I have to wash my hands so often. Hand sanitizers … Read More...

MORE FROM Q&A >>

Research: From The Elias Lab

Top 5 Scientific Discoveries About Skin Of The Decade

December 26, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

We have learned a lot about skin and its permeability barrier in recent years.  Here are our … Read More...

MORE FROM THE ELIAS LAB >>

Research: From Labs Around the World

Top 5 Scientific Discoveries About Skin Of The Decade

December 26, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

We have learned a lot about skin and its permeability barrier in recent years.  Here are our … Read More...

MORE FROM RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD >>

  • INSIDE THE SKIN BARRIER
  • SKIN DISORDERS
  • REPAIRING THE SKIN BARRIER
  • CLIMATE AND THE SKIN
  • Q&A
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • EPICERAM®
  • PRESS ROOM
  • FOR PROFESSIONALS
  • Research From The Elias Lab
  • Research From Around the World
  • CONTACT US
  • FREE Taking Good Care of Your Skin
  • FREE Primer On The Skin Barrier
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2013-2020 Elias Williams Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer · Design by Cheryl McLaughlin