TITLE:
Effect of Ambient Humidity on the Transmission of UV/Visible Light through Model Human Epidermis
AUTHORS:
Carlton Farley III, Aschalew Kassu, Sandra Sadate, Anup Sharma
KEYWORDS:
Model Human Epidermis, Model Skin, Effect of Humidity, Transmission of Light, Optical Properties of Epidermis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: Transmission of light through model human epidermal samples is investigated at four different wavelengths and at varying ambient humidity. Light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) is used for transmission measurements through the samples at a UVA wavelength of 365 nm, and visible wavelengths of 460 nm, 500 nm, and 595 nm. Ambient air-humidity is varied between 20% and 100%. Results show that for high ambient humidity, near 100%, transmission of light through the epidermis is higher than at low ambient humidity, 60% or lower. These results are explained with a simple model of epidermis as a turbid medium and the effect of adsorbed water in reducing light-scattering by refractive-index-matching. Biological implications of increased light-transmission through epidermis at high ambient humidity are discussed.