Intended for healthcare professionals
Review

The diverse effects of sunlight on skin

Gemma AJ Harrop

BSc MBChB MRCP PGCert Dermatology Registrar

Sally H Ibbotson

BSc MBChB FRCP MD CCST Professor of Photodermatology and Consultant Dermatologist University of Dundee, 

 

Ninewells Hospital and Medical School

Sunlight consists of different wavelengths of light. The different wavebands have profound and diverse effects on the skin, which may be beneficial or detrimental to human health and disease. Sunlight exposure may induce acute sunburn and a variety of photosensitivity diseases and is the main environmental risk factor for skin cancer. However, its wavelengths can be harnessed effectively in order to deliver an essential range of photodiagnostic and therapeutic techniques and regimens, which are invaluable in dermatology practice.

Dermatology in practice 2019; 25(1): 4–8
To continue reading this article, please sign in or register.

Dermatology in practice was previously supported by Wyeth from 2008 to 2010, by Wyeth and Serono in 2007, by Wyeth and Shire from 2005 to 2006, by Medlock Medical in 2004 and by SSL International from 2001 to 2003.

The data, opinions and statements appearing in the articles herein are those of the contributor(s) concerned; they are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher, Editor or Editorial Board. Accordingly the publisher, Editor and Editorial Board and their respective employees, officers and agents accept no liability for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading data, opinion or statement.

The title Dermatology in practice is the property of Hayward Medical Publishing and PMGroup Worldwide Ltd and, together with the content, is bound by copyright. Copyright © 2021 PMGroup Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained on the site may not be reproduced, distributed or published, in whole or in part, in any form without the permission of the publishers. All correspondence should be addressed to:

ISSN 0262-5504 (Print) ISSN 2049-8446 (Online)