Ultraviolet Light and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Abstract
In the beginning of this century, a Danish dermatologist, Professor Niels Finsen, received the Nobel Prize for his showing of the beneficial effects of UV-light on certain skin diseases. We have subsequently learned that UV-light is far from being only beneficial to our health. UV-light is an important risk factor for malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (1). Furthermore, UV-light appears to have immunosuppressive effects, not only on the local skin, but on the immune system in general (2-4). Recently, it was suggested that UV-light may also increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (5, 6).