title: Introduction to photobiology.
abstract: Photobiology is the study of the local and systemic effects of incident radiation on living organisms. Solar radiation is made up of ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is made up of UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A. Sun exposure can lead to sunburn, tanning, vitamin D production, photoaging, and carcinogenesis. Phototherapy is the use of nonionizing radiation to treat cutaneous disease. Various types of artificial light sources are used for photo testing and phototherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Lakeside 3500, Mailstop 5028, Cleveland, OH 44106-5028, USA. Electronic address: elma.baron@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Elma D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Suggs
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018462:Photobiology / Q000379:methods*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: Melanogenesis; Photoaging; Photobiology; Phototherapy; Sunburn; Ultraviolet light; Ultraviolet radiation; Vitamin D production