Melanin is not a hormone. Melanin is a pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color. It is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes found in the skin's basal layer.
Hormones, on the other hand, are chemical messengers produced by the body's endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream to target organs.
The production of melanin is regulated by hormones, specifically α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which is produced from proopiomelanocortin (POMC).
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and it is often confused with melanin.
In summary, melanin is a pigment, not a hormone.
