This review highlights recent studies and progress involved in understanding the development of cutaneous melanocytes and the regulation of McSCs. Melanocytes in the skin play an indispensable role in the pigmentation of skin and its appendages. It is well known that the embryonic origin of melanocytes is neural crest cells. In adult skin, functional melanocytes are continuously repopulated by the differentiation of melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) residing in the epidermis of the skin.

This article is part of a series of Editorials published biannually that highlights a number of recently published articles that describe crucial findings.