BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Researchers have discovered that colorless skin cells can control the darkness of pigment-holding skin cells, which could lead to more natural-looking artificial skin for medical uses and better cosmetics.

Melanocytes, specifically keratinocytes, were found to produce chemical signals that control the distribution and amount of melanin (pigment) in melanocytes.

"This study should lead to bioengineered skin grafts that more closely resemble the natural tone and color of recipients, which may help reduce the appearance of scarring," said Dr. Gerald Weissmann, an editor of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal in which the study will be detailed in September.

"Down the road, however, this study opens doors to new types of cosmetics based on our understanding of how and why‘skin deep’differences in appearance evolved over millions of years," Weissmann said.

To engineer the darkness of biologically engineered skin grafts, researchers tried various mixtures of keratinocytes from people with different types of skin colors. They discovered keratinocytes from light-skinned individuals had a lightening effect on skin graft material inserted onto the back skin of mice, while those from dark-skinned individuals had a darkening effect.

The researchers think the findings are significant because colorless keratinocytes are far easier to control than the pigmented melanocytes.

(Agencies)