Ultraviolet radiation produces selective immune incompetence

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from within spectrum B (UVB) has the recognized capacity to produce cutaneous malignancies in both humans and laboratory animals. UVB exposure to skin is now known to produce selective immune incompetence. This incompetence has been demonstrated for the recognition of UVR-induced cutaneous malignancies and for the recognition of chemical sensitizers which reach cutaneous immunocompetent cells near to the time of irradiation. These observations provide strong circumstantial evidence that selective immune incompetence contributes substantially to the development of skin cancers.