Mitochondria gives cells a tan

You read that correctly

Let’s put this reductionist notion that mitochondria are simply the powerhouse of the cell to rest

They surpass that simplistic label, as they play a far more complex role, including a significant influence on skin pigmentation and melanin development

•••

Mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes that affect skin pigmentation:

They are the energy supply for melanin production through their ability to provide ATP, essential for the biosynthesis of melanin

Mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can influence melanin production. An increase in ROS can stimulate melanogenesis, leading to darker pigmentation

They control apoptosis (programmed cell death), affecting the turnover of melanocytes, which are the cells that make melanin (PMID: 19659442)

Mitochondria regulate calcium within the cell. Proper calcium uptake by mitochondria is essential for melanin production in melanosomes (PMID: 39527653)

Mitochondria sit at the heart of redox balance. They regulate the redox environment, which in turn influences the stability of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, and affects melanosomes

•••

What more proof do you need that melanin production is a cornerstone of human health?

Stop listening to centralized dermatologists who view biology and skin through a reductionist lens

It’s time to cultivate your tan through wise full spectrum sun exposure, aligned with a circadian appropriate framework