Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) Testing
06:24

Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) Testing

Published on: May 28, 2013

Med estimation for narrow band UV-B on type IV and type V skin in India

Ganesh S Pai1, Vimala Vinod, Veena Krishna

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India.

With an aim to determine minimum erythema dose of narrow band UV-B, 30 subjects, 20 with type IV skin and 10 with type V skin were subjected to graded incremental doses of 311-Narrow band UV-B phototherapy cabiner by Daavlin. Barely perceptible erythema 24 hours after exposure was taken as MED. 33.3% developed erythema at 745 mj, 26.6% at 620 mj, 23.3% at 1075 mj, and 10% at 1290 mj. The average MED for narrow band UV-B exposure for type 1V skin was 600 mj, [range 5515-755 mj] and for type V skin 1100 mj {range 895-1290 mj}. Better therapeutic response can be obtained by giving approximately 360-450 mj as initial irradiation dose for type 1 V skin and 600-825 mj for type V skin.

Related Concept Videos

UV–Vis Spectrometers01:14

UV–Vis Spectrometers

The absorbance of UV and visible (UV–visible) radiations is measured using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Deuterium lamps, which emit UV radiation, and tungsten lamps, which produce radiation in the visible region, are used as light sources in UV–visible spectrophotometers. A monochromator or prism is used for diffraction grating, i.e., to split the incoming radiation into different wavelengths. A system of slits is used to focus the desired wavelength on the sample cell. Samples for...
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview01:02

Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview

Ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible or UV–Vis) spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the interaction between matter and UV–Vis light within the electromagnetic spectrum. This method is widely used for its versatility, simplicity, and relatively quick data acquisition, making it valuable for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. When UV–Vis radiation passes through a material,  molecules absorb light depending on the energy required for electronic transitions. As a result...
UV–Vis Spectrum01:30

UV–Vis Spectrum

When light passes through a substance, a portion of the light is absorbed while the remaining light is reflected or transmitted. If the molecule absorbs light between the wavelengths of 180–400 nm range, the UV spectrum is obtained, and if it absorbs light in the 400–780 nm wavelength range, the visible spectrum is obtained.     
The UV–Vis spectrum of a molecule is the plot of its absorbance versus wavelength. The plot is drawn by taking molar absorptivity (ε) or log ε on the y-axis (ordinate)...
Skin Cancer01:30

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).