Skin lightening treatments can temporarily reduce melanin production in the skin. Most of these treatments work by inhibiting the enzyme needed to make melanin. However, it is not possible to permanently reduce melanin pigmentation because its formation is genetically determined.

Melanin is a natural skin pigment, the color of hair, skin and eyes in humans and animals depends largely on the type and amount of melanin in the body. Research has found that melanin can help protect the skin from UV rays. So what is melanin? And what diseases are related to melanin?