Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

Retired and living in south-west France

Qualifications

BSc, AKC, PhD, DSc

Previous Positions

Head, Department of Medical Physics
Clinical Director, Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

Research Interests

Skin photobiology, particularly in the measurement of human exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet radiation, its effects in normal and diseased skin, and environmental and behavioural aspects of sun exposure

• Diffey BL. An overview analysis of the time people spend outdoors. British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 164(4), 848-854.
• Diffey BL. In praise of small studies. British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 165(1), 3-4.
• Dadvand P, Basagana X, Barrera-Gomez J, Diffey B, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Measurement errors in the assessment of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and its impact on risk estimates in epidemiological studies. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2011, 10(7), 1161-1168.
• Dadvand P, Basagana X, Barrera J, Diffey B, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Measurement errors in the assessment of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and its impact on risk estimates in epidemiological studies. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2011, 10(7), 1161-1168.
• Macdonald HM, Mavroeidi A, Aucott LA, Diffey BL, Fraser WD, Ormerod AD, Reid DM. Skin Color Change in Caucasian Postmenopausal Women Predicts Summer-Winter Change in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D: Findings from the ANSAViD Cohort Study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011, 96(6), 1677-1686.
• Diffey BL. The impact of topical photoprotectants intended for daily use on lifetime ultraviolet exposure. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2011, 10(3), 245-250.
• Diffey BL. Ultraviolet A sunbeds and vitamin D. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2011, 65(5), 1059-1060.
• Diffey BL. Why dermatologists shouldn't practise in red light districts. British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 165(4), 925-925.
• Diffey BL. A contemporary strategy for sun exposure. In: Zerefos, C; Contopoulos, G; Skalkeas, G, ed. Twenty Years of Ozone Decline: Proceedings of the Symposium for the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. Dordrecht: Springer, 2009, pp. 383-385.
• Diffey BL, Ferguson J. Assessment of photoprotective properties of sunscreens. In: Lim, HW; Draelos, ZD, ed. Clinical Guide to Sunscreens and Photoprotection. New York: Informa Healthcare, 2009, pp. 53-63.
• Diffey BL, Norridge Z. Reported sun exposure, attitudes to sun protection and perceptions of skin cancer risk: a survey of visitors to Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign website. British Journal of Dermatology 2009, 160(6), 1292-1298.
• Diffey BL. Spectral Uniformity: a new index of broad spectrum (UVA) protection. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2009, 31, 63-68.
• Diffey B. A behavioral model for estimating population exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Photochemistry and Photobiology 2008, 84(2), 371-375.
• Diffey BL. A contemporary strategy for sun exposure. Expert Review of Dermatology 2007, 2(2), 139-142.
• Diffey BL. Advances in sunscreens. US Dermatology Review 2007, 46-48.
• Diffey BL, Kochevar I. Basic principles of photobiology. In: Lim, HW; Hönigsmann, H; Hawk, JLM, ed. Photodermatology. New York: Informa Healthcare, 2007, pp. 15-27.
• Diffey B. Sunbeds, beauty and melanoma. British Journal of Dermatology 2007. UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 157(2), 215-216.
• Diffey BL, Farr PM. The challenge of follow-up in narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. British Journal of Dermatology 2007, 157(2), 344-349.
• Diffey B. Do we need a revised public health policy on sun exposure?. British Journal of Dermatology 2006, 154(6), 1046-1051.
• Diffey B. The contribution of medical physics to the development of psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) in the UK: A personal reminiscence. Physics in Medicine and Biology 2006. , 51(13), R229-R244.
• Diffey BL. A perspective on the need for topical sunscreens. In:Shaath, N.A., ed. Sunscreens: Regulations and Commercial Development.Boca Raton FL:Taylor & Francis Group,2005, pp. 45-53.
• Diffey BL. Do white British children and adolescents get enough sunlight?. British Medical Journal 2005,331 7507 3-4.
• Diffey BL, Langtry JAA. Skin cancer incidence and the ageing population. British Journal of Dermatology 2005. ,153 3 679-680.
• Diffey BL. Sunscreens and melanoma: the future looks bright. British Journal of Dermatology 2005,153 2 378-381.
• Diffey B. Climate change, ozone depletion and the impact on ultraviolet exposure of human skin. Physics in Medicine and Biology 2004,49 1 R1-R11.
• Diffey BL. The future incidence of cutaneous melanoma within the UK. British Journal of Dermatology 2004,151 4 868-872.
• Diffey BL. Towards optimal regimens for the UVB phototherapy of psoriasis: A mathematical model. Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2004,84 4 259-264.
• Diffey BL. What can be done to reduce personal ultraviolet radiation exposure?. In:DJ Hill, JM Elwood, DR English, ed. Prevention of Skin Cancer.Dordrecht:Kluwer Academic,2004, pp. 241-258.
• Diffey BL. A quantitative estimate of melanoma mortality from ultraviolet A sunbed use in the UK. British Journal of Dermatology 2003,149 3 578-581.
• Diffey BL. Factors affecting the choice of a ceiling on the number of exposures with TL01 ultraviolet B phototherapy. British Journal of Dermatology 2003, 149(2), 428-430.
• Diffey BL. Sun protection factor determination in vivo using a single exposure on sunscreen-protected skin. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2003,19 6 309-312.
• Allan W, Diffey BL. A device for minimizing the risk of overexposure of patients undergoing phototherapy. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2002, 18(4), 199-201.
• Taylor DK, Anstey AV, Coleman AJ, Diffey BL, Farr PM, Ferguson J, Ibbotson S, Langmack K, Lloyd JJ, McCann P, Martin CJ, Menage HD, Moseley H, Murphy G, Pye SD, Rhodes LE, Rogers S. Guidelines for dosimetry and calibration in ultraviolet radiation therapy: a report of a British Photodermatology Group workshop. British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 146(5), 755-763.
• Diffey BL. Is daily use of sunscreens of benefit in the UK?. British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 146(4), 659-662.
• Taylor S, Diffey B. Simple dosage guide for suncreams will help users. British Medical Journal 2002, 324(7352), 1526-1526.
• Diffey BL. Sources and measurement of ultraviolet radiation. Methods 2002, 28(1), 4-13.
• Smith GJ, Miller IJ, Clare JF, Diffey BL. The effect of UV absorbing sunscreens on the reflectance and the consequent protection of skin. Photochemistry and Photobiology 2002, 75(2), 122-125.
• Chuck A, Todd J, Diffey B. Subliminal ultraviolet-B irradiation for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly: a feasibility study. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2001, 17(4), 168-171.
• Diffey B. Sunscreen isn't enough. In: ESP Conference on Photoprotection. 2001, Krakow, Poland: Elsevier SA.
• Diffey B. Sunscreen protection in the ultraviolet A region: how to measure effectiveness. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2001, 17(4), 200-200.
• Diffey BL. Sunscreens and UVA protection: A major issue of minor importance. Photochemistry and Photobiology 2001, 74(1), 61-63.
• Diffey BL. When should sunscreen be reapplied?. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2001, 45(6), 882-885.
• Turner RJ, Walshaw D, Diffey BL, Farr PM. A controlled study of ultraviolet A sunbed treatment of psoriasis. British Journal of Dermatology 2000, 143(5), 957-963.
• Diffey BL. Dosimetry of ultraviolet A radiation. Methods in Enzymology 2000, 319, 245-255.
• Halpern SM, Anstey AV, Dawe RS, Diffey BL, Farr PM, Ferguson J, Hawk JLM, Ibbotson S, McGregor JM, Murphy GM, Thomas SE, Rhodes LE. Guidelines for topical PUVA: a report of a workshop of the British Photodermatology Group. British Journal of Dermatology 2000, 142(1), 22-31.
• Diffey B. Has the sun protection factor had its day?. British Medical Journal 2000, 320(7228), 176-177.
• Diffey BL, Tanner PR, Matts PJ, Nash JF. In vitro assessment of the broad-spectrum ultraviolet protection of sunscreen products. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2000, 43(6), 1024-1035.
• Diffey B. Personal protection: The way forward. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2000, 91(1-3), 293-296.
• Diffey, B.L, ed. Measurement and Trends of Terrestrial UVB Radiation in Europe. Milan: Organizzazione Editoriale Medico Farmaceutica, 1996.
• Diffey, B.L, ed. Radiation Measurement in Photobiology. London: Academic Press, 1989.
• Diffey, B.L. Ultraviolet Radiation in Medicine. Bristol: Adam Hilger Ltd, 1982.