Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message

Sahngeun Jenny Mun; Vanessa Lee; Monisha Gupta

doi:10.1007/s43630-025-00688-w

Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message

Sahngeun Jenny Mun
, Vanessa Lee
, Monisha Gupta

Western Sydney University

Australian National University
Western Sydney University
Liverpool Hospital
University of New South Wales

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

65 Downloads (Pure)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	e0262833
Pages (from-to)	215-225
Number of pages	11
Journal	Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
Volume	24
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-025-00688-w
Publication status	Published - Feb 2025

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UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Light protection
Photoprotection
Pigmentary disorders
Sunscreen
Visible light

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full textFinal published version, 742 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message",

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.",

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N2 - 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.

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KW - Light protection

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KW - Pigmentary disorders

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KW - Visible light

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Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message

Abstract

Open Access - Access Right Statement

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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