麻豆传媒

Brian Diffey obtained a BSc (1st class) in Mathematics and Physics, an AKC in Theology and a PhD in radiation physics, all from the University of London, King's College. In 1999 he was awarded a DSc by the University of London for his work on human exposure to, and protection from, ultraviolet radiation.

His entire career was spent in the NHS at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital (7 years), Dryburn Hospital, Durham (18 years) and finally at 麻豆传媒 General Hospital (10 years) where he was Professor of Medical Physics and Clinical Director of the Regional Medical Physics Department.

He has published more than 450 papers and chapters and presented almost 300 personal presentations at local, national and international meetings and conferences. His most recent book, Sun Protection: a risk management approach, was published in October 2017.

He has received several prizes and awards for his work, is an honorary member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the Swedish Society for Dermatology and Venereology, and the European Society for Photodermatology, and has advised a number of bodies on sun exposure and skin health including the World Health Organization and the Cancer Research UK SunSmart programme, as well as patient support groups concerned with sun-related diseases such as vitiligo and xeroderma pigmentosum.

He is retired and lives in Devon.

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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.

Strategies for sun protection, especially the use of topical sunscreens - devised the Boots UVA star rating used in the UK and the broad spectrum index adopted by the FDA in the US. 

Development of mathematical models for estimating plasma levels of vitamin D from diet and sun exposure. 

• Diffey B. . In: Surber, C; Osterwalder, U, ed. Challenges in Sun Protection. Basel: Karger, 2021, pp.44-52.
• Diffey B, Wallace M, Mistri P, Kapwata T, Wernecke B, Wright CY. . Photochemistry and Photobiology 2020, 96(4), 943-944.
• Diffey BL, O'Connor C, Marlow I, Bell M, O'Mahony MM. . International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2018, 40(4), 401-407.
• Diffey BL, Farr PM. . Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences 2018, 17(12), 1941-1945.
• Diffey BL. . International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2017, 39(1), 90-92.
• Diffey BL, Norval M, Albers PN, Wright CY. . South African Medical Journal 2017, 107(2), 127-129.
• Diffey B, Cadars B. . Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2016, 15(3), 361-364.
• Haddadeen C, Robinson S, Wakamatsu K, Dixon S, Gough C, Ito S, Diffey B, Friedmann P, Healy E. . In: American Academy of Dermatology 73rd Annual Meeting. 2015, San Francisco, CA, USA: Mosby-Elsevier.
• Latimer J, Lloyd J, Diffey B, Matts P, Birch-Machin MA. . Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2015, 135, 2512-2518.
• Pissavini M, Doucet O, Diffey BL. . International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2013, 35(5), 510-514.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Nutrition 2013, 110(3), 569-577.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2013, 169(2), 240.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2013, 169(2), 236-237.
• Pissavini M, Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine 2013, 29(3), 111-115.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2012, 167(3), 463-464.
• Diffey BL, Brown MW. . Photochemistry and Photobiology 2012, 88(3), 744-747.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2012, 167(5), 1175-1178.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 164(4), 848-854.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 165(1), 3-4.
• Dadvand P, Basagana X, Barrera-Gomez J, Diffey B, Nieuwenhuijsen M. . Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2011, 10(7), 1161-1168.
• Dadvand P, Basagana X, Barrera J, Diffey B, Nieuwenhuijsen M. . Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2011, 10(7), 1161-1168.
• Macdonald HM, Mavroeidi A, Aucott LA, Diffey BL, Fraser WD, Ormerod AD, Reid DM. . Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011, 96(6), 1677-1686.
• Diffey BL. . Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2011, 10(3), 245-250.
• Diffey BL. . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2011, 65(5), 1059-1060.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2011, 165(4), 925-925.
• Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2010, 26(4), 172-176.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2010, 162(6), 1342-1348.
• Robinson S, Dixon S, August S, Diffey B, Wakamatsu K, Ito S, Friedmann PS, Healy E. . Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2010, 130(7), 1904-1913.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2010, 163(2), 435-436.
• Diffey BL. . 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. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine 2009, 25(4), 227-229.
• Diffey BL, Ferguson J. . In: Lim, HW; Draelos, ZD, ed. Clinical Guide to Sunscreens and Photoprotection. New York: Informa Healthcare, 2009, pp.53-63.
• Björn L, De Gruijl F, Diffey B, Norval M. . Journal of Applied Physics 2009, 105(11), 116103.
• Diffey BL, Norridge Z. . British Journal of Dermatology 2009, 160(6), 1292-1298.
• Diffey BL. . International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2009, 31, 63-68.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2009, 161(Supplement 3), 25-27.
• Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine 2009, 25(5), 233-236.
• Diffey B. . Photochemistry and Photobiology 2008, 84(2), 371-375.
• Mavroeidi A, Neill FO, Black AJ, Fraser WD, Diffey BL, Reid DM, Macdonald HM. . In: 30th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. 2008, Montreal, Canada: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Flockhart R, Diffey BL, Farr PM, Lloyd JJ, Reynolds NJ. . FASEB Journal 2008, 22(12), 4218-4227.
• Diffey BL. . Expert Review of Dermatology 2007, 2(2), 139-142.
• Kirke SM, Lowder S, Lloyd JJ, Diffey BL, Matthews JNS, Farr PM. . Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007, 127(7), 1641-1646.
• Diffey BL. . US Dermatology Review 2007, 46-48.
• Diffey BL, Kochevar I. . In: Lim, HW; Hönigsmann, H; Hawk, JLM, ed. Photodermatology. New York: Informa Healthcare, 2007, pp.15-27.
• Diffey B. . British Journal of Dermatology 2007, 156(4), 788-788.
• Diffey B. . British Journal of Dermatology 2007, 157(2), 215-216.
• Diffey BL, Farr PM. . British Journal of Dermatology 2007, 157(2), 344-349.
• Flockhart R, Diffey B, Farr P, Reynolds N. . In: 37th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR 2007). 2007, Zurich, Switzerland: Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Nature Publishing Group.
• Flockhart RJ, Diffey BL, Farr PM, Reynolds NJ. . British Journal of Dermatology 2007, 156(5), 1108-1108.
• Farr PM, Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2006, 22(1), 52.
• Allen JM, Kokkinos EM, Murray A, Diffey BL, Mokhtary SL, Meggitt SJ, Harrison DK, Walker K, Isaacs JD, Pathare S, Griffiths B. . In: BSR Annual Meeting/BHPR Spring Meeting. 2006, Glasgow, UK: Rheumatology: S. Karger AG.
• Diffey B. . British Journal of Dermatology 2006, 154(6), 1046-1051.
• Diffey B. . Physics in Medicine and Biology 2006, 51(13), R229-R244.
• Diffey BL. . In: Shaath, N.A, ed. Sunscreens: Regulations and Commercial Development. Boca Raton FL: Taylor & Francis Group, 2005, pp.45-53.
• Hennessy A, Oh C, Diffey B, Wakamatsu K, Rees JL. . In: British Journal of Dermatology: Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists. 2005, Cambridge, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Diffey BL. . British Medical Journal 2005, 331(7507), 3-4.
• Hennessy A, Oh C, Diffey B, Wakamatsu K, Ito S, Rees J. . Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 2005, 18(3), 220-223.
• Diffey BL, Langtry JAA. . British Journal of Dermatology 2005, 153(3), 679-680.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2005, 153(2), 378-381.
• Hennessy A, Oh C, Rees J, Diffey B. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2005, 21(5), 229-233.
• Diffey B. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2005, 21(1), 56-57.
• Hennessy A, Oh C, Diffey B, Rees J. . In: 34th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research. 2004, Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Nature Publishing Group.
• Ibbotson SH, Bilsland D, Cox NH, Dawe RS, Diffey B, Edwards C, Farr PM, Ferguson J, Hart G, Hawk J, Lloyd J, Martin C, Moseley H, McKenna K, Rhodes LE, Taylor DK. . British Journal of Dermatology 2004, 151(2), 283-297.
• Diffey B. . Physics in Medicine and Biology 2004, 49(1), R1-R11.
• Hampton PJ, Farr PM, Diffey BL, Lloyd JJ. . British Journal of Dermatology 2004, 151(4), 873-876.
• Rees JL, Waterston K, Naysmith L, Oh C, Hennessy A, Bisset Y, Diffey B, Ito S, Wakamatsu K. . In: Experimental Dermatology: 1st International Meeting on Neurobiology of the Skin. 2004, Munster, Germany: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Benjamin K, Waterston K, Russell M, Schofield O, Diffey B, Rees JL. . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2004, 50(1), 33-40.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2004, 151(4), 868-872.
• Oh C, Hennessy A, Ha T, Bisset Y, Diffey B, Rees JL. . Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2004, 123(5), 965-972.
• Diffey BL. . Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2004, 84(4), 259-264.
• Diffey BL. . In: DJ Hill, JM Elwood, DR English, ed. Prevention of Skin Cancer. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, 2004, pp.241-258.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2003, 149(3), 578-581.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2003, 149(2), 428-430.
• Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2003, 19(6), 309-312.
• Allan W, Diffey BL. . 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. . British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 146(5), 755-763.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 146(4), 659-662.
• Das S, Lloyd JJ, Walshaw D, Diffey BL, Farr PM. . British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 147(5), 966-972.
• Taylor S, Diffey B. . British Medical Journal 2002, 324(7352), 1526-1526.
• Diffey BL. . Methods 2002, 28(1), 4-13.
• Diffey BL, Diffey JL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2002, 147(2), 397-399.
• Smith GJ, Miller IJ, Clare JF, Diffey BL. . Photochemistry and Photobiology 2002, 75(2), 122-125.
• Diffey BL. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2002, 18(2), 68-74.
• Reynolds NJ, Franklin V, Gray JC, Diffey BL, Farr PM. . Lancet 2001, 357(9273), 2012-2016.
• Chuck A, Todd J, Diffey B. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2001, 17(4), 168-171.
• Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 2001, 144(3), 449-450.
• Diffey B. . In: ESP Conference on Photoprotection. 2001, Krakow, Poland: Elsevier SA.
• Diffey B. . Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 2001, 17(4), 200-200.
• Diffey BL. . Photochemistry and Photobiology 2001, 74(1), 61-63.
• Diffey BL. . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2001, 45(6), 882-885.
• Turner RJ, Walshaw D, Diffey BL, Farr PM. . British Journal of Dermatology 2000, 143(5), 957-963.
• Diffey BL. . 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. . British Journal of Dermatology 2000, 142(1), 22-31.
• Diffey B. . British Medical Journal 2000, 320(7228), 176-177.
• Diffey BL, Tanner PR, Matts PJ, Nash JF. . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2000, 43(6), 1024-1035.
• Diffey B. . Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2000, 91(1-3), 293-296.
• Gordon PM, Diffey BL, Matthews JNS, Farr PM. . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1999, 41(5), 728-732.
• Reynolds NJ, Franklin V, Gray J, Diffey BL, Farr PM. . In: 60th Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. 1999, Chicago, Illinois: Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Nature Publishing Group.
• Azurdia RM, Pagliaro JA, Diffey BL, Rhodes LE. . British Journal of Dermatology 1999, 140(2), 255-258.
• Stokes RP, Diffey BL. . Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology 1999, 50(2-3), 137-143.
• Stokes RP, Diffey BL. . British Journal of Dermatology 1999, 140(2), 259-263.
• Diffey BL. Sun protection: have we gone too far?. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1998, 138(3), 562-563.
• Diffey BL, Gies HP. The confounding influence of sun exposure in melanoma. LANCET 1998, 351(9109), 1101-1102.
• Diffey BL, ed. . Milan: Organizzazione Editoriale Medico Farmaceutica, 1996.
• COX NH, DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND THE ERYTHEMAL RESPONSE TO ULTRAVIOLET-B RADIATION. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1992, 126(4), 315-319.
• DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET ERYTHEMA. CLINICAL PHYSICS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT 1991, 12(4), 311-325.
• DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. SUNSCREEN PROTECTION AGAINST UVB, UVA AND BLUE-LIGHT - AN INVIVO AND INVITRO COMPARISON. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1991, 124(3), 258-263.
• Diffey, B.L, ed. Radiation Measurement in Photobiology. London: Academic Press, 1989.
• DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. SUNBED LENTIGINES. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 1988, 296(6634), 1468-1468.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF TOPICAL INDOMETHACIN ON CUTANEOUS ERYTHEMA INDUCED BY UVB AND UVC RADIATION. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1986, 115(4), 453-466.
• DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. THE ERYTHEMAL RESPONSE TO ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION IN SUBJECTS WITH POLYMORPHIC LIGHT ERUPTION. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1986, 114(1), 103-108.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF TOPICAL INDOMETHACIN ON CUTANEOUS ERYTHEMA INDUCED BY ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION (UVR). In: BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. 1985.
• DIFFEY BL, PAL B, GIBSON CJ, CLAYTON CB, GRIFFITHS ID. APPLICATION OF BAYES THEOREM TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS FROM RADIOISOTOPE BONE SCANS. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES 1985, 44(10), 667-670.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. HOW RELIABLE ARE SUNSCREEN PROTECTION FACTORS. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1985, 112(1), 113-118.
• DIFFEY BL, FARR PM. LACK OF PHOTORECOVERY OF ULTRAVIOLET ERYTHEMA IN HUMAN-SKIN. PHOTODERMATOLOGY 1985, 2(2), 115-117.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. THE ERYTHEMAL RESPONSE OF HUMAN-SKIN TO ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1985, 113(1), 65-76.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. THE ERYTHEMAL RESPONSE OF HUMAN-SKIN TO ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION. In: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. 1985.
• FARR PM, DIFFEY BL. QUANTITATIVE STUDIES ON CUTANEOUS ERYTHEMA INDUCED BY ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1984, 111(6), 673-682.
• TAYLOR R, TAYLOR AEM, DIFFEY BL, HINDSON TC. A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF UV-A PHOTOTHERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF UREMIC PRURITUS. NEPHRON 1983, 33(1), 14-16.
• FRIEDMANN PS, FORD G, ROSS J, DIFFEY BL. REAPPEARANCE OF EPIDERMAL LANGERHANS CELLS AFTER PUVA THERAPY. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1983, 109(3), 301-307.
• TAYLOR R, TAYLOR AEM, HINDSON C, DIFFEY B. UVR FOR UREMIC PRURITUS. CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY 1983, 8(2), 208-208.
• COBURN P, FRIEDMANN P, DAHL MGC, DIFFEY B. INVESTIGATION OF MECHANISMS AND WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF BLISTER FORMATION IN PUVA-TREATED PATIENTS. In: BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. 1982.
• FRIEDMANN PS, ROSS J, DIFFEY B. TIME COURSE OF RECOVERY OF LANGERHANS CELLS AFTER PUVA THERAPY, AND WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ULTRAVIOLET-IRRADIATION. In: BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. 1982.
• Diffey, B.L. Ultraviolet Radiation in Medicine. Bristol: Adam Hilger Ltd, 1982.
• FRIEDMANN PS, FORD G, ROSS J, DIFFEY B. WAVELENGTH SPECIFICITY AND TIME COURSE OF PUVA-INDUCED CHANGES IN LANGERHANS CELLS. In: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. 1982.
• MOSELEY H, DIFFEY BL, MARKS JM, MACKIE RM. PERSONAL SOLAR UV-A DOSES RECEIVED BY PATIENTS UNDERGOING ORAL PSORALEN PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY FOR PSORIASIS. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1981, 105(5), 573-577.