Final answer:
Melanin is another term for pigment, responsible for the color of our hair and skin. Alongside melanin, carotene and hemoglobin also contribute to skin color, majorly visible in people with less melanin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Another term for pigment, the coloring matter that gives our hair and skin their natural color, is melanin. Melanin is the main substance determining skin and hair color. The skin's color can also be influenced by other pigments like carotene and hemoglobin. Carotene provides a yellowish tint, while hemoglobin gives a pinkish flush to the skin, especially noticeable in individuals with lower levels of melanin.
In the skin, melanin is produced by cells known as melanocytes located in the stratum basale of the epidermis. Melanocytes transfer melanin to keratinocytes through a melanosome vesicle. As for hair, melanocytes in the hair papilla produce melanin, which then creates different hair colors based on the type and amount of melanin present.
Age also affects melanin production, resulting in hair gradually losing its color and becoming gray or white over time. This variation in hair color is not only due to genetic factors but can also change due to several environmental and physiological factors.