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Visible Light and the Skin.

Nneamaka Ezekwe1,2, Jalal Maghfour2, Indermeet Kohli2,3

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Photochemistry and Photobiology
|April 16, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Visible light (VL) causes significant skin pigmentation in darker skin tones and can induce redness in lighter skin tones. New research highlights the need for photoprotection strategies against VL and UVA1 exposure.

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Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Photobiology
  • Skin Science

Background:

  • Visible light (VL) was historically considered to have minimal photobiologic effects on skin.
  • Recent research indicates VL induces significant pigmentation in dark skin (phototypes IV-VI) and erythema in light skin (phototypes I-III).
  • Long-wavelength UVA1 (370-400 nm) potentiates VL effects, and their combination (VL+UVA1) is a novel finding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving understanding of VL's photobiologic effects on skin.
  • To discuss current phototesting methodologies for VL exposure.
  • To outline the current stance on photoprotection against VL.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on visible light and UVA1 effects on skin.
  • Analysis of photobiologic responses across different skin phototypes.
  • Evaluation of existing photoprotection guidelines and testing methods.

Main Results:

  • VL induces more intense and prolonged pigmentation in dark skin than UVA1.
  • VL+UVA1 can cause erythema in light skin, challenging previous understandings of the erythemogenic spectrum.
  • No current international guidelines exist for photoprotection testing against VL+UVA1.

Conclusions:

  • Visible light, particularly in combination with UVA1, has significant and previously underestimated effects on skin.
  • There is a critical need for developing and implementing photoprotection strategies and testing methodologies for the VL waveband.
  • Further research and updated guidelines are necessary to address the risks associated with VL exposure.