Recent advances have transformed our understanding of the interaction between visible light and near-infrared (NIR) radiation with human skin. Beyond ultraviolet radiation, VL and NIR have been shown to influence diverse biological processes through photoreceptors such as opsins, resulting in downstream effects on melanogenesis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and tissue remodeling. These pathways are increasingly relevant to pigmentary disorders including melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in individuals with darker skin phototypes. Concurrently, photobiomodulation using red and near-infrared wavelengths has gained attention as a noninvasive therapeutic approach for wound healing, inflammatory disorders, hair growth, skin rejuvenation, and other dermatologic indications. Despite rapid growth in the field, important questions remain regarding wavelength specificity, dosimetry, cumulative exposure, interindividual variability, and long-term clinical outcomes.
Visible light (VL) and near-infrared (NIR) radiation constitute a substantial portion of solar radiation reaching the skin and are increasingly recognized as biologically active wavelengths with important implications for skin health and disease. While ultraviolet radiation has traditionally dominated photobiology research, growing evidence demonstrates that VL and NIR influence pigmentation, inflammation, oxidative stress, cellular signaling, and tissue repair through distinct photoreceptive pathways. At the same time, red and near-infrared wavelengths are emerging as therapeutic modalities through photobiomodulation and low-level light therapy. This Research Topic aims to bring together basic scientists, translational investigators, and clinicians to advance understanding of the biological mechanisms, clinical consequences, and therapeutic applications of VL and NIR exposure. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this collection seeks to identify knowledge gaps, promote methodological rigor, and support the development of evidence-based approaches for photoprotection, diagnosis, and treatment in dermatology.
This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, systematic reviews, brief reports, methods papers, and perspectives addressing the biological effects, clinical implications, therapeutic applications, and photoprotection of visible light and near-infrared radiation in dermatology. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
-Pigmentary disorders, including melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation -Wavelength-specific effects on pigmentation, inflammation, and skin biology -Oxidative stress, inflammation, photoaging, and photocarcinogenesis -Photobiomodulation, low-level light therapy, and regenerative dermatology -Photoprotection strategies and sunscreen formulation science -Exposure assessment, dosimetry, and dose-response relationships -Skin phototype, ethnicity, and health equity considerations -Device development and emerging technologies -Interactions with ultraviolet radiation -Clinical trials and translational studies evaluating preventive and therapeutic interventions -Long-term and cumulative effects on skin health and disease
Submissions spanning basic, translational, and clinical research are encouraged.
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This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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