Photobiology and photomedicine: the future is bright

Important events since 1966 that have helped to advance photobiology in general and photomedicine in particular are reviewed. More formal courses on photobiology are needed so that future photobiologists and photodermatologists will not have to be self-taught about the properties and action of light. The effectiveness of current phototherapies and their future improvement are discussed. Some of the areas of photobiology what will impact on photomedicine in the years to come are ultraviolet (UV) radiation effects on the immune system, the light activation of enzymes as a potential new type of photothoerapy, the development of new photosensitizers for phototherapy, the effects of near-UV radiation on cellular membranes, and, of course, the role of DNA damage and repair in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. The future is bright for photomedicine.