Hyper-pigmentary conditions can arise when melanogenesis in the epidermis is mis-regulated. Understanding the pathways underlying melanogenesis is essential for the development of effective treatments. Here, we show that a group of metabolites called polyamines are important in the control of melanogenesis in human skin. Polyamines are cationic molecules present in all cells and are essential for cellular function. We show that polyamine regulator ODC1 is upregulated in melanocytes from melasma lesional skin. We show that the polyamine putrescine can promote pigmentation in human skin explants and primary melanocytes (NHEM) through induction of Tyrosinase which is rate limiting for the synthesis of melanin. Putrescine supplementation on NHEMs results in activation of polyamine catabolism which results in increased intracellular H₂2. Polyamine catabolism is also increased in human skin explants that have been treated with putrescine. We further show that inhibition of polyamine catabolism prevents putrescine induced promotion of Tyrosinase levels and pigmentation in NHEMs showing that polyamine catabolism is responsible for the putrescine induction of melanogenesis. Our data showing that putrescine promotes pigmentation has important consequences for hyper- and hypo-pigmented conditions. Further understanding of how polyamines control epidermal pigmentation could open the door for the development of new therapeutics.