Visible Light and the Skin. 2022

Nneamaka Ezekwe, and Jalal Maghfour, and Indermeet Kohli
Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.

Visible light (VL, 400-700 nm) was previously regarded as nonsignificant with minimal to no photobiologic effects on the skin. Recent studies have demonstrated that in dark-skinned individuals (skin phototypes IV-VI), VL can induce more intense and longer lasting pigmentation compared to ultraviolet A1 (UVA1, 340-400 nm). Additionally, long wavelength UVA1 (370-400 nm) has been shown to potentiate these effects of VL. The combination of VL and UVA1 (VL + UVA1, 370-700 nm) was also able to induce erythema in light-skinned individuals (skin phototypes I-III), which is a novel finding since the erythemogenic spectrum of sunlight has primarily been attributed to ultraviolet B (UVB, 290-320 nm) and short wavelength UVA2 (320-340 nm) only. Although biologic effects of VL + UVA1 have been established, there are no guidelines in any country to test for photoprotection against this waveband. This invited perspective aims to present the evolution of knowledge of photobiologic effects of VL, associated phototesting methodologies, and current position on VL photoprotection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008027 Light That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range. Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D004890 Erythema Redness of the skin produced by congestion of the capillaries. This condition may result from a variety of disease processes. Erythemas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D012880 Skin Pigmentation Coloration of the skin. Skin Color,Skin Tone,Color, Skin,Colors, Skin,Pigmentation, Skin,Pigmentations, Skin,Skin Colors,Skin Pigmentations,Skin Tones,Tone, Skin,Tones, Skin
D014466 Ultraviolet Rays That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum immediately below the visible range and extending into the x-ray frequencies. The longer wavelengths (near-UV or biotic or vital rays) are necessary for the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D and are also called antirachitic rays; the shorter, ionizing wavelengths (far-UV or abiotic or extravital rays) are viricidal, bactericidal, mutagenic, and carcinogenic and are used as disinfectants. Actinic Rays,Black Light, Ultraviolet,UV Light,UV Radiation,Ultra-Violet Rays,Ultraviolet Light,Ultraviolet Radiation,Actinic Ray,Light, UV,Light, Ultraviolet,Radiation, UV,Radiation, Ultraviolet,Ray, Actinic,Ray, Ultra-Violet,Ray, Ultraviolet,Ultra Violet Rays,Ultra-Violet Ray,Ultraviolet Black Light,Ultraviolet Black Lights,Ultraviolet Radiations,Ultraviolet Ray

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