Study of the Influence of Blue Light Emitted by Computer / Television Screens on Melasma MELABLUE Study (MELABLUE)

Study of the Influence of Blue Light Emitted by Computer / Television Screens on Melasma Single-center, Interventional, Randomized, Single-blind Study (Masked Investigator) MELABLUE Study

Melasma is a fairly common condition resulting in hyperpigmented macules on the face. Melasma is difficult to treat and has a significant negative impact on the patient's quality of life.

Melasma is worsen when exposed to high energy visible light (blue and violet light) of the solar spectrum. Blue light emitted by LED screens from computers, tablets, televisions and even mobile phones is currently suspected (via media channels) to induce harmful effects on the skin, including pigmentation and photoaging. These screens, however, emit much lower irradiances than those of the solar spectrum, and the probability that these irradiances impact the skin is very low.

The objective of the study is to assess the effect of blue light emitted by computer/television screens on the intensity of melasma pigmentation. To do this, it is proposed to use maximized conditions that could be encountered in normal daily life, namely a simulation of blue light exposure (420-490nm) at 20 cm from a laptop LED screen, 8 hours a day for 5 days. Since it is not proposed to expose a person for 8 hours a day, a solar simulator with appropriate filters will be used to emit a spectrum of between 420 and 490 nm with a compatible intensity for an acceptable duration of exposure (around 30 minutes a day).

Twelve patients will be included in the study and exposed on a half-face from Day1 to Day5. The other half-face will serve as unexposed control. The effect of blue light on the melasma lesions will be assessed from Day 1 to Day 6 using chromametry and a modified MASI on standardized photographs. A final evaluation visit will be performed at Day 15.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Melasma
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: exposition half-face

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Nice, France
    • Centre de Pharmacologie Clinique Appliquée à la Dermatologie

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female patient, 18 years of age and older, phototype II to V on the Fitzpatrick scale
• Patient with a clinically diagnosed diagnosis of melasma.
• Patient without a serious medical history and declared fit to participate in the medical visit.
• Patient who has signed a written informed consent form before any action related to the study is initiated.
• If the patient is able to procreate, she should use reliable contraception (contraceptive pill, contraceptive implant, intrauterine contraceptive device, bilateral tubal ligation / section, condoms), and agree not to change contraceptive status for at least one month before the start of the study and throughout the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have planned a pregnancy during the course of the study.
• Patient with another pigment condition on the face.
• Patient who used depigmenting cosmetic on the face in the two weeks prior to inclusion.
• Patient who used a local corticosteroid on the face or systemic steroids during the month prior to inclusion.
• Patient who used local tretinoin or local hydroquinone during the month prior to inclusion.
• Patient who took systemic or topical photosensitizing treatments during the month preceding the first day of the study (1 month or 5 half-lives, the longest possible duration),
• Patient with a history of photodermatoses.
• Patient spending more than 3 hours a day in front of a screen (computer, LED TV, tablet, phone etc ...) for professional or private reasons.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Melasma Group exposed left half-face by ORIEL solar simulator; Twelve patients will be included in the study and exposed on a half-face from Day1 to Day5. The other half-face will serve as unexposed control.	Device: exposition half-face; Patients will be included in the study and exposed on a half-face from Day1 to Day5. The other half-face will serve as unexposed control. The effect of blue light on the melasma lesions will be assessed from Day 1 to Day 6 using chromametry and a modified Melasma Area and Severity Index on standardized photographs
Other: Melasma Group exposed right half-face by ORIEL solar simulator; Twelve patients will be included in the study and exposed on a half-face from Day1 to Day5. The other half-face will serve as unexposed control.	Device: exposition half-face; Patients will be included in the study and exposed on a half-face from Day1 to Day5. The other half-face will serve as unexposed control. The effect of blue light on the melasma lesions will be assessed from Day 1 to Day 6 using chromametry and a modified Melasma Area and Severity Index on standardized photographs

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Evaluate the effect of blue light emitted by computer / television screens on the intensity of pigmentation of melasma by Melasma Area and Severity Index scale	15 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Evaluate the tolerance and the possible undesirable effects induced by the exposure in blue light with Melasma Area and Severity Index scale	15 days
Evaluate the effect of blue light emitted by computer / television screens on the intensity of pigmentation of healthy skin by chomametry	15 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thierry PASSERON, MD, PhD, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Duteil L, Queille-Roussel C, Lacour JP, Montaudie H, Passeron T. Short-term exposure to blue light emitted by electronic devices does not worsen melasma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Sep;83(3):913-914. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.047. Epub 2019 Dec 27. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 11, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 11, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 22, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 14, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): March 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Pigmentation Disorders; Hyperpigmentation; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Melanosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-PP-02

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No