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Skin Photoprotection Function

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Agache’s Measuring the Skin

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Abstract

Before entering the atmosphere, the spectrum of the sun radiance ranges from 200 to 2600 nm. At approximately 20 to 30 kms from the earth surface, a first alteration occurs, due to the presence of ozone which absorbs ultraviolets C (100–280 nm). While going down deeper into the atmosphere, the sun radiance loses energy by molecular diffusion and because of water vapour. Optical radiations which reach the skin are ultraviolet rays (UV), visible light and infrareds (IR). The shortest wavelengths, i.e., UVB (290–320 nm) and UVA (320–400 nm), are the most likely to generate biological effects. Some of them are beneficial such as the caloric effect of IR, the antirachitic action of UVBs which transform 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D, the influence as an antidepressor, the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Other impacts are harmful or even dangerous such as sunburns due to UVB, skin photo-aging and in particular photo-carcinogenesis.

To counteract optical radiations, the skin has more or less efficient mechanisms of adaptation and defence depending on individuals. The main means of defence are the thickening of the horny layer, the production of melanin, the activation of antioxydizing (antioxydantes) molecules, the DNA repairing systems and the secretion of cytokines.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Rik Roelandts (University of Leuven, Belgium) is warmly acknowledged for reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital centre, 14043, Caen, France

    Dominique Leroy

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  1. Dominique Leroy
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Correspondence to Dominique Leroy .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medecine Vasculaire Lab. Ingénierie et de Biologie Cutanées, CHU Besancon Service Dermatologie et, Besancon, France

    Philippe Humbert

  2. San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard Maibach

  3. Department of Dermatology, Saint Jacques University Hospital, Besançon, France

    Ferial Fanian

  4. Univ. Besançon Dépt. Dermatologie, Besançon, France

    Pierre Agache

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Leroy, D. (2016). Skin Photoprotection Function. In: Humbert, P., Maibach, H., Fanian, F., Agache, P. (eds) Agache’s Measuring the Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26594-0_135-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26594-0_135-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26594-0

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