Abstract:

Blue light is a visible light in the wavelength range of 400-500 nm, which can cause damage to the periocular and ocular structures, accelerate skin aging, inhibit melatonin secretion, and cause skin pigmentation. Compared with UV light, blue light causes more intense and long-lasting skin pigmentation, but there are few studies on the mechanisms of skin pigmentation caused by blue light. In this review, the mechanisms of skin pigmentation caused by blue light have been systematically summarized. It is briefly described that, blue light affects melanocytes by mediating the effect of opsin 3 and finally increases the production of tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase （DCT）, leading to increased melanin synthesis in the skin; blue light can also affect melanocortin receptor-1, which in turn affects the production of interleukin-1 and endothelin receptor-1, which in turn acts on melanocortin receptor-1 and finally affects the α-MSH-MC1R pathway, leading to increased melanin. The final effect on the α-MSH-MC1R pathway leads to increased melanin synthesis, triggering skin pigmentation. This review could provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of skin pigmentation caused by blue light and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent studies.

Key words: blue light, melanocyte, opsin, melanocortin receptor, pigmentation