Abstract
Pigmentation, whether constitutive (i.e. base skin colour) or facultative (induced by UVR), is considered to have photoprotective properties in human skin. Much of the evidence for this is epidemiological and is based on the inverse relationship between skin cancer risk and skin pigmentation. Some studies have evaluated the photoprotective role of facultative pigmentation using erythema and epidermal DNA photodamage caused by a single UVR exposure. In general, pigmentation-related protection factors against these endpoints have been shown to be about 2–3 in different white skin types and were independent of the level of pigmentation. In vitro studies suggest that epidermal pigmentation may be the mammalian equivalent of a bacterial SOS response. We have shown no difference in human epidermal DNA repair capacity in different skin types after a single exposure to solar simulating radiation (SSR). However, repeat SSR exposure studies suggest that DNA repair may be induced in skin types IV that tan well, but not in skin types II that tan poorly. One interpretation of these studies is that pigmentation ability is an indicator of inducible DNA repair capacity and it is this, rather the photoprotective properties of pigment per se, this is important in the prevention of skin cancer.
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Young, A.R. (2002). How Much Photoprotection Does a Tan Afford?. In: Holick, M.F. (eds) Biologic Effects of Light 2001. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0937-0_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0937-0_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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