A review of melanin sensor devices
Open accessAbstract
Knowing how readily the skin produces melanin is invaluable in reducing photochemical and phototherapy overtreatment in dermatology and also in reducing the risk of actinic skin damage and skin cancer from excessive radiant light exposure. The commonly used Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) classification scale is often used to subjectively assess ultraviolet light sensitivity and susceptibility to sunburn following significant sunlight exposure. However, the FST scale falls short in the assessment of nonwhite skin types. Alternatively, commercially available melanin sensor devices, called melanometers, can be used to objectively quantify useful skin parameters such as the epidermal melanin concentration (EMC). This study reviews commercially available melanometers and their use in quantifying epidermal melanin concentration (EMC) and the individual maximum safe radiant exposure (IMSRE) for an individual in clinical, workplace and community settings.
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The Fitzpatrick skin type scale is unreliable for darker skin, does not take into account skin color ranges, and does not accurately provide skin cancer risk, leading to healthcare disparities.
“The FST scale has been found to be unreliable for darker skin, not taking into account skin color ranges nor accurately providing skin cancer risk, ultimately leading to healthcare disparities.13,14”
From Effect of skin color on optical properties and the implications for medical optical technologies: a review (2024) · cites this paper as [13]
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Setchfield, K., Gorman, A., Simpson, A. H. R. W., Somekh, M. G., & Wright, A. J. (2024) · Journal of Biomedical Optics · doi:10.1117/1.jbo.29.1.010901 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kanellis, V. G.
- Affiliations
- Canberra Hospital (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Kanellis, Vangelis George
- Venue
- Biophysical Reviews
- Published
- 2019-08-08
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 843-849
- ISSN
- 1867-2450 (ISSN-L)
- 1867-2469
- PMC
- PMC6874939
- OpenAlex
- W2967715215
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 0.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Biophysical Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
- Keywords
- UV sensitivity, sunburn susceptibility, actinic skin damage, skin cancer prevention
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