Przemyslaw M. Plonka

TL;DR: Follicular melanogenesis involves sequentially the melanogenic activity of follicular melanocytes, the transfer of melanin granules into cortical and medulla keratinocytes, and the formation of pigmented hair shafts, which is stringently coupled to the anagen stage of the hair cycle.

TL;DR: This review summarizes current views on melanogenesis in Pro- and Eukaryotic microorganisms in terms of their biotechnological and biomedical importance.

TL;DR: UV touches the brain and central neuroendocrine system to reset body homeostasis, which invites multiple therapeutic applications of UV radiation, for example, in the management of autoimmune and mood disorders, addiction, and obesity.

TL;DR: These emerging cutaneous functions beyond the classical image of the skin as a barrier and sensory organ are immediately relevant for many of the quandaries that clinical dermatology, dermatopathology, and dermatopharmacology are still struggling with to-date.

TL;DR: The current Controversies feature explores the far too infrequently posed, biologically and clinically important questions of melanocyte biology as mentioned in this paper, and provides a cornucopia of old, but under-appreciated concepts and novel ideas on the slowly emerging complexity of physiological melanocyte functions.