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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Quantitative Visualization and Detection of Skin Cancer Using Dynamic Thermal Imaging
Published on: May 5, 2011
The other end of the rainbow: infrared and skin
Aton M Holzer1, Mohammad Athar, Craig A Elmets
1Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue S., Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Abstract:
Although infrared radiation (IRR) is ubiquitous in the terrestrial milieu, its effects on human skin have until now been largely ignored. Recent studies suggest an important role for infrared A (IRA) radiation (760-1440 nm) in dermal inflammation, photoaging, and photocarcinogenesis. In this issue, Calles et al. identify and analyze the IRA-induced transcriptome in human dermal fibroblasts. Their work paves the way for new research directions in IRA photobiology and raises important clinical questions regarding photoprotection and IRR-based dermatotherapy.
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