Depth Penetration of Light into Skin as a Function of Wavelength from 200 to 1000 nm
Open accessAbstract
An increase in the use of light‐based technology and medical devices has created a demand for informative and accessible data showing the depth that light penetrates into skin and how this varies with wavelength. These data would be particularly beneficial in many areas of medical research and would support the use and development of disease‐targeted light‐based therapies for specific skin diseases, based on increased understanding of wavelength‐dependency of cutaneous penetration effects. We have used Monte Carlo radiative transport (MCRT) to simulate light propagation through a multi‐layered skin model for the wavelength range of 200–1000 nm. We further adapted the simulation to compare the effect of direct and diffuse light sources, varying incident angles and stratum corneum thickness. The lateral spread of light in skin was also investigated. As anticipated, we found that the penetration depth of light into skin varies with wavelength in accordance with the optical properties of skin. Penetration depth of ultraviolet radiation was also increased when the stratum corneum was thinner. These observations enhance understanding of the wavelength‐dependency and characteristics of light penetration of skin, which has potential for clinical impact regarding optimizing light‐based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for skin disease.
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Finlayson et al. showed that 1% of light reached depths of 1.6 and 5 mm at wavelengths of 450 and 650 nm, respectively.
“By modeling photon transmission and using data taken from published results for the optical properties of the skin, Finlayson et al.56 showed that 1% of light reached depths of 1.6 and 5 mm at wavelengths of 450 and 650 nm, respectively.”
From Effect of skin color on optical properties and the implications for medical optical technologies: a review (2024) · cites this paper as [56]
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- Authors
- Finlayson, L., Barnard, I. R. M., McMillan, L., Ibbotson, S. H., Brown, C. T. A., Eadie, E., & Wood, K.
- Affiliations
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- University of Dundee (GB)
- NHS Tayside (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Finlayson, Louise
- ORCID
- Venue
- Photochemistry and Photobiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-11-09
- Volume
- 98
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 974-981
- ISSN
- 0031-8655 (ISSN-L)
- 1751-1097
- OpenAlex
- W3209623457
- Cited by
- 302
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 75 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 21
- FWCI
- 19.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Photochemistry and Photobiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (2262922)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- Keywords
- light penetration depth, skin, wavelength dependence, ultraviolet radiation, stratum corneum thickness, angle of incidence, skin optical properties, phototherapy, skin diseases
- MeSH terms
- Computer Simulation, Epidermis, Monte Carlo Method, Ultraviolet Rays
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