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Our relationship with the sun is ingrained in the human experience. For centuries, energy from our brightest star has provided us with food, light, and warmth. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye, and Light Skin Science, backed by CLINUVEL, is here to help share the untold story of light.
We are changing the conversation around skin health to reflect current research. We need protection from all forms of light and this requires a combination of lifestyle and behaviour changes. We have the know-how and the technology to keep ourselves safe, as long as we’re open to changing our relationship with solar radiation.
Read on to find out more about photoprotection.
Every moment of solar exposure causes thousands of changes within your skin, potentially threatening your long-term health. Photoprotection means ‘protection from light,’ specifically Ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. Here, we use the term to describe the protection of human skin.
Light is electromagnetic radiation which travels in waves. The length of those waves and the distance between each peak determines how we categorise light, but also where and how it can interact with the environment. Wavelengths (measured in nanometres or nm) are important when we talk about the effects of light on human skin.
To understand the range of light across the solar spectrum, we divide it into three component parts: ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light, and infrared.
Light is all around us and impacts our health, whether we can see it or not.
UVB travels between 290 – 320nm and makes up 5% of the UV radiation we are exposed to. It penetrates the epidermis (the outer layer of our skin) and is responsible for sunburn. It can also cause DNA damage within our skin cells, which can be a catalyst for skin cancer.
UVA travels between 320 – 400nm and makes up 95% of the UV radiation we are exposed to. UVA travels deeper into the skin than UVB, passing through the epidermis to the dermis (the inner layer) and can cause the DNA damage that leads to skin cancers, photoageing and hyperpigmentation.
High Energy Visible (HEV) light, travels between 400 – 500nm and is visible to the human eye. It is emitted from many electronic devices, as well as the sun. This light travels even further than UVA, right to the base of our skin. Here, it damages skin cells, leading to photoageing and hyperpigmentation.
Revolution and Evolution.
Our interaction with solar radiation needs fast and fundamental change. Overexposure to UV radiation remains the major threat to our skin’s health, but increasing evidence shows that HEV light is also a contributor. We now know that taking precautions during peak UV hours isn’t enough; we need permanent behaviour change and robust photoprotective skincare that provides a wider-spectrum (polychromatic) defence.
Join the HEVolution, where pioneering technology, decisive action, and incremental behaviour change come together. We’re empowering people all over the world to take control of their relationship with solar radiation.
We’re building a thriving community where people can connect with and learn from each other. The Untold Story of Light is grounded in science, but also relates to the millions of unheard stories and experiences across the globe.
Come and join top athletes, skin cancer survivors, and the immunocompromised community as we deepen the conversation around solar exposure and safe behaviour.
