Gemma Montalvo’s scientific contributions

Currently, the cosmetic industry is developing several treatments based on the use of lights with different wavelengths for anti-ageing strategies and facial rejuvenation. Some lights have been proven to be beneficial for our skincare, but their actual effects require an in-depth analysis. Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) is a spontaneous, low intensity emission from all living systems produced as a consequence of metabolic reactions (e.g., oxidative metabolism, cell division, photosynthesis, or carcinogenesis). However, it can also be induced by several factors, such as light exposure, wounds, thermal shock, and other stress elements. Thus, measuring human biophotonic emission can open new horizons to explore the real benefits of light therapies, particularly regarding the direct relationship between light exposure and free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are the main cause of UPE. In this study, the ultra-weak photon emission from a sample of ten human beings after exposure to different lights was studied using red and green lights (artificially produced by an RGB LED lamp) and natural light (directly received from the sun), aiming to assess the UPE changes when directly focusing these types of lights on the skin. Hence, this technique could be proposed as a pioneering control tool in cosmetics, principally with phototherapies.