The melanin produced by the body that is red to yellow in color is _____.

• A. Eumelanin
• B. Melanin
• C. Carotene
• D. Pheomelanin

Answer: (D)

Two types of melanin determine color: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin gives brown to black tones, while pheomelanin produces red to yellow hues. The red-to-yellow color described comes from pheomelanin, which is more associated with lighter hair and skin tones, such as in red hair. Carotene is a separate pigment from dietary sources that can yellow-orange the skin but isn’t melanin produced by the melanocytes. So the pigment that accounts for red to yellow coloration is pheomelanin.