Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42557920›Full record

SynthesisPhotodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine2026

Natural Agents for Preventing Skin Damage Induced by Visible Light: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.

Azahara Rodríguez-Luna, Alicia Zamarrón, Cristina García-Muñoz, Juan-Carlos Hernández-Rodríguez, Henry W Lim, Salvador González

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Azahara Rodríguez-LunaFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1529-7674
Alicia ZamarrónDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonoma University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7711-2145
Cristina García-MuñozDepartment of Physiotherapy, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2621-2098
Juan-Carlos Hernández-RodríguezDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2525-4069
Henry W LimThe Henry W. Lim Division of Photobiology and Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1576-1115
Salvador GonzálezDepartment of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9282-4784

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background/purposeVisible light (VL), and particularly high-energy visible light (HEVL), reaching Earth's surface has emerged as a relevant contributor to skin damage. VL has been implicated in oxidative stress, inflammation, pigmentation disorders, and photoaging, especially in individuals with darker skin phototypes. As conventional sunscreens offer limited protection in the visible spectrum, increasing attention has been directed toward complementary photoprotective strategies, including the use of natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This systematic review aims to evaluate and synthesize the available preclinical and clinical evidence on the photoprotective effects of natural compounds against VL-induced skin damage, emphasizing their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was performed to identify studies reporting validated objective outcomes, including colorimetric parameters, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, or clinical grading scales. Eligible studies were included, qualitatively synthesized, and risk of bias was evaluated.

resultsPreclinical studies demonstrated that natural compounds mitigated VL-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and pigmentation-related pathways. Clinical studies showed that formulations containing natural compounds improved VL-induced erythema and pigmentation outcomes. However, considerable heterogeneity was observed in irradiation protocols, outcome measures, and study designs, precluding quantitative meta-analysis.

conclusionOverall, available evidence supports a protective role for selected natural compounds against VL-induced skin damage, particularly through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, with the strongest clinical evidence focusing on natural sources of polyphenols. Nevertheless, this review highlights the need for standardized phototesting protocols and well-designed clinical trials. Future research should focus on comparative efficacy, long-term safety, and integration of natural compounds into combined photoprotection strategies tailored to different skin phototypes.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsBiological ProductsSkinSunscreening AgentsAnimalsHumansLightOxidative StressSkin AgingAntioxidantsBiological ProductsSunscreening Agentshigh‐energy visible lightnatural compoundsphotoagingphotoprotectionpigmentationskin photobiologysystematic reviewvisible lightantioxidants

Identifiers

PMID42557920
PMCPMC13444213

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.