 Melatonin was originally discovered by Aaron Lerner, a Yale dermatologist, and colleagues, who had hoped it could be used to treat vitiligo.Although melatonin did not prove to be relevant to dermatology treatments, it was quickly confirmed to be secreted by the pineal gland to affect the brain.Further research found that circadian melatonin rhythms persisted under constant darkness, which suggested that light alone is not responsible for the cycle of melatonin secretion.