title: Hyperbaric oxygen improves ultraviolet B irradiation-induced melanin pigmentation and diminishes senile spot size.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen on ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced melanin pigmentations of skins and on senile spot sizes of faces were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the first experiment, male subjects were irradiated with UVB on their upper arms for inducing erythema and the subsequent melanin pigmentation. They were exposed to a hyperbaric environment at 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 32% oxygen for 1 h/day, three times per week. In the second experiment, female subjects were exposed to a hyperbaric environment at 1.25 ATA with 32% oxygen for 1 h/day, two times per week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first experiment, melanin pigmentations lightened after 4 weeks of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. In the second experiment, senile spot sizes became small after 12 weeks of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that exposure to hyperbaric oxygen used in this study accelerates both the fading in melanin pigmentation and the decrease in senile spot size.
authors.affiliation: Beauty Care Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. nishizaka.takahiro@kao.co.jp
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizaka
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagatomo
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D007911:Lentigo / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*