Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Minimal Erythema Dose MED Testing
Published on: May 28, 2013
Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message
Sahngeun Jenny Mun1, Vanessa Lee2, Monisha Gupta3
1School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Jenny.Mun@anu.edu.au.
Abstract:
Current sunscreen messaging centres around skin cancer prevention, with an emphasis on mitigating the damaging effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Darker skin is believed to be better protected against UVB owing to its higher melanin content, and therefore, this messaging has been largely targeted at people with lighter skin tones. This is reflected by low sunscreen use by people of darker skin types. However, visible light (VL) is now being appreciated as a culprit behind exacerbation of disorders of hyperpigmentation such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) which is known to significantly impair quality of life (QoL) of those affected. The role of VL in melanogenesis is not well known to patients nor to dermatologists and is a missed opportunity in the management of pigmentary disorders. We propose that changing the terminology from 'sunscreen' to 'light protection' acknowledges the central role of VL in melanogenesis, underlining the importance of VL protection and making the messaging more inclusive for people of all skin colours.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
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).
Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Acne Infection

