Pigmentära

Pigmentära is an adjective used in Swedish to describe matters relating to pigments, the colored substances that give tissues and products their color. In biology, pigmentära phenomena concern the production, distribution, and function of pigments such as melanin, chlorophyll, and carotenoids. In medicine, the term is often applied to pigmentary disorders affecting skin, hair, or eyes.

Biological pigments serve diverse roles. Melanin determines skin, hair, and iris color and helps protect against ultraviolet radiation. Chlorophyll and related pigments enable photosynthesis in plants, while carotenoids contribute yellow to red hues and can act as antioxidants and light-harvesting molecules. Pigment patterns also influence camouflage and signaling in animals.

Human pigmentary disorders arise from abnormalities in pigment production or distribution. Albinism involves reduced or absent melanin and normal melanocyte numbers. Vitiligo features patches of depigmented skin due to loss of melanocytes. Hyperpigmentation includes melasma and solar lentigines, often related to hormones, sun exposure, or inflammation. Diagnosis relies on clinical examination; treatment ranges from sun protection to targeted therapies for specific conditions.

Pigments are studied in ecology, medicine, and industry. In cosmetics and paints, pigments provide color; in food, approved pigments act as colorants. Research on pigment biosynthesis, such as melanin production via the enzyme tyrosinase, helps understand disorders and develop interventions.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin pigmentum and is used in several languages, including Swedish, to denote pigment-related phenomena.