Abstract
Sun exposure induces a broad range of skin reactions, the so-called photodermatoses. This group includes immunologically mediated photosensitive disorders, drug- or chemical-induced photosensitivity reactions, genetic diseases and photoexacerbated dermatoses. The clinical diagnosis may be difficult if skin lesions heal spontaneously before medical examination, and a careful phototesting is needed. The management of the ‘photosensitive’ patient includes photoprotection (e.g., sun avoidance and the use of sunscreens), preventive phototherapy and medical treatment of acute flares. The suitable sunscreen should match the individual action spectrum of the disease and it should have a filtering activity proportional to the light threshold. Unfortunately, only few studies with a good experimental design are available so far. Oral and topical antioxidants are often used as well, but further studies are needed to assess their efficacy.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Notes
†Photosensitivity is a clinical feature only in a minority of patients.