!Where Does Skin Pigmentation Come From? - SUSHENAH scientific illustration Pigmentation comes from melanocytes—specialized cells in your basal layer that produce melanin and transfer it to surrounding skin cells. According to research in Andrews' Diseases of the Skin, melanocytes are "dendritic" cells—meaning they have branch-like extensions. These dendrites reach out to neighboring keratinocytes and deliver melanin packages called melanosomes. Here's what this means for pigmentation concerns. The visible color on your skin surface came from melanocytes deeper down. The keratinocytes you see don't make their own pigment—they received it from below. This is why pigmentation issues are often deeper than they appear. You're seeing the result, not the source. Treating pigmentation effectively means reaching the melanocyte, not just the surface. Learn about cause-based approaches to pigmentation that address the source.
