Light and Skin

Sunlight comprises radiation of different wavelengths, of which UVA and UVB are most important with respect to human skin diseases. Next to erythema, edema, and sunburns, UV radiation causes skin cancer. UV radiation of any wavelength is now considered as a class I carcinogen to humans. The mutagenic effects of UV radiation depend on DNA damage following direct absorption by nuclear DNA, resulting in cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts that, if not repaired by nucleotide excision repair pathway, result in characteristic UV signature mutations (C→T or CC→TT transition). In addition, increased formation of reactive oxygen species by UV exposure may cause formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine leading to T→G transversion. In addition, UV radiation has been shown to induce a number of immune modulations that largely result in local and potentially also in systemic immunosuppression, which may not only impair control of dysplastic and neoplastic skin lesions but also affect immuno-pathological and infectious skin diseases. Recent find-ings have shown that ambient doses of high-energy visible light, beyond the UV range, may also cause damage to human skin.