ReviewSao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina2026
Is photobiomodulation therapy free from racial bias?: a narrative review of skin pigmentation.
Review in Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Monte Carlo simulations of optical propagation in human skin using experimentally measured laser parameters.Lasers in medical science · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPhotobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been extensively researched for tissue repair, pain relief, and muscle recovery. However, melanin, a primary skin chromophore, can impede photon penetration into darker skin, potentially diminishing the efficacy of PBMT. Despite this, clinical protocols and guidelines seldom account for skin pigmentation when setting parameters, possibly exacerbating racial disparities in healthcare.
objectiveTo examine the effect of melanin on the efficacy of PBMT and highlight the necessity for personalized strategies that account for skin pigmentation. DESIGN AND
settingShort communication conducted at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.
methodsA narrative review of PBMT mechanisms, light-tissue interactions, and the impact of melanin absorption on treatment outcomes was conducted.
resultsThe clinical outcomes of PBMT depend on the technical parameters (wavelength, energy, and dose) and skin pigmentation. Darker skin tones with higher melanin content may lead to reduced photon penetration effectiveness. However, most studies and protocols do not consider this variable. Only a few clinical trials have categorized outcomes by skin tone, exposing a notable knowledge gap.
conclusionMelanin plays a crucial role in PBMT response, and overlooking skin pigmentation in research and clinical practice could perpetuate disparities. Enhanced and tailored protocols are essential to optimize PBMT outcomes among diverse populations.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.