Inhibitory Effect of 505 nm Green Light Emitting Diode on Melanin Synthesis in Cellular Experiments and a Human Intervention Study

Authors

  • Yoshihito Mima Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • Takehiro Yamada Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • Jun Omatsu Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • Takashi Yamashita Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • Shota Suzuki HYOJO Science Lab, Research and Development Department, YA-MAN Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
  • Takayuki Takechi HYOJO Science Lab, Research and Development Department, YA-MAN Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
  • Mayumi Ichikawa HYOJO Science Lab, Research and Development Department, YA-MAN Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
  • Kentaro Yamazaki HYOJO Science Lab, Research and Development Department, YA-MAN Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
  • Shinichi Sato Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • Ayumi Yoshizaki Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.43441

Keywords:

505 nm green light-emitting diode, melanogenesis, tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, green light-emitting diode-equipped facial masks

Abstract

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently gaining attention in aesthetic medicine for their applications in the treatment of pigmentation and wrinkles. While several wavelengths of LEDs have been reported to inhibit melanin production by targeting melanin synthesis-related enzymes, melanosomes, and paracrine factors stimulating melanogenesis from keratinocytes, the effects of green LED (GLED) remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GLED on cell viability, melanin production, and
melanin-related gene expression using B16 melanoma cells and 3-dimensional (3D) skin models. Furthermore, its efficacy in improving skin pigmentation was evaluated through a human intervention study with GLED-equipped facial masks. The melanin synthesis inhibitory effects of 505 nm GLED were evaluated using B16 mouse melanoma cells, a 3D skin model containing melanocytes, and a human intervention study with 505 nm GLED-equipped masks. 505 nm GLED irradiation reduced melanin production in melanogenesis-induced B16 mouse melanoma cells by suppressing the gene expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase. Furthermore, GLED irradiation also reduced melanin content in 3D skin models without affecting cell viability. Finally, a human intervention study demonstrated that GLED irradiation on human facial skin effectively decrease pigmentation. These findings suggest 505 nm GLED is a potential depigmentation strategy.

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Published

2025-05-15 — Updated on 2026-03-17

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Mima, Y., Yamada, T., Omatsu, J., Yamashita, T., Suzuki, S., Takechi, T., … Yoshizaki, A. (2026). Inhibitory Effect of 505 nm Green Light Emitting Diode on Melanin Synthesis in Cellular Experiments and a Human Intervention Study. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 105, adv43441. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.43441 (Original work published May 15, 2025)

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Copyright (c) 2025 Yoshihito Mima, Takehiro Yamada, Jun Omatsu, Takashi Yamashita, Shota Suzuki, Takayuki Takechi, Mayumi Ichikawa, Kentaro Yamazaki, Shinichi Sato, Ayumi Yoshizaki

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