Loading ...

As concerns about ultraviolet (UV) radiation dominate sun safety discussions each summer, experts are calling attention to a less-studied component of sunlight: visible light.

An international panel of photodermatology specialists issued the first broad consensus recommendations on visible light photoprotection, highlighting its potential relevance to skin health and disease.

The consensus conference was convened by the International Union of Photobiology in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2025, brought together experts from clinical, academic, and industry settings. The 27 consensus statements, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, clarified the role of visible light in skin biology and informed future photoprotection strategies.

Risk Groups

The document focuses on visible solar radiation within the wavelength range of 400-700 nm.

Available evidence suggests that visible light can induce oxidative stress in the skin, trigger inflammation, and cause indirect DNA damage, most likely through oxidative mechanisms.

Visible light can cause erythema across all skin phototypes and induce hyperpigmentation in individuals with medium-to-dark skin tones. It may worsen disorders associated with excess melanin production, including melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation resulting from acne or skin injury. It may also aggravate photodermatoses, such as solar urticaria and cutaneous porphyria.

The consensus, therefore, recommended protection against visible light primarily for individuals with disorders characterized by excess melanin production and for patients with solar urticaria or cutaneous porphyria.

The document does not provide specific recommendations on protection against visible light for the general population.

Protection Methods

Seeking shade and wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hats remain the foundation for protection against the full spectrum of solar radiation.

The consensus notes that most commercially available chemical sunscreens are designed to block UV radiation. Physical filters, particularly those containing titanium dioxide combined with varying concentrations of iron oxide pigments, create an opaque barrier capable of reflecting visible light.

The document also discusses bioactive topical ingredients that do not block visible light but may help reduce its harmful effects. These include vitamins C, E, and B3, as well as green tea polyphenols.

Certain oral agents, including vitamin B3 and extracts of Polypodium leucotomos, a South American fern with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may also support cellular repair mechanisms.

Expert Views

Speaking with Univadis Italy, part of the Medscape Professional Network, Antonio Cristaudo, MD, surgeon specializing in dermatology and sexually transmitted diseases, said, “In a country with intense sunlight such as Italy, it is always advisable to protect oneself from solar radiation regardless of wavelength and to be cautious not only at the beach but also during everyday outdoor activities, while avoiding exposure during the middle of the day.” He was the former director of clinical dermatology at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome and practices privately in Rome, Italy.

“Unlike UVB radiation, visible light does not cause sunburn, which creates a risk that its effects may be underestimated. These effects may become apparent only over time. At present, we do not have solid evidence that visible light directly damages DNA and therefore contributes to the carcinogenic effects of UV radiation, but research is ongoing to investigate this possibility.”

Pietro Quaglino, MD, professor of dermatology and chair of the Dermatologic Clinic from the University of Turin in Turin, Italy, noted that over-the-counter products containing physical filters can provide protection against UV radiation and, to some extent, visible light.

“This is particularly true for blue light, which has been associated with an increased risk for melasma, characterized by dark patches on the forehead and around the eyes,” Quaglino said.

“These products are recommended for individuals at increased risk for hyperpigmentation, including pregnant women and patients receiving estrogen therapy, which stimulates melanin production.”

He added that the skin phototype influences the type of risk associated with sun exposure.

“It is important to remember, as highlighted in the consensus document, that people with lighter skin tones are at greater risk for sunburn, whereas those with darker skin tones are more prone to pigmentary changes.”

This story was translated from Univadis Italy.