Photoprotection
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR) has well-known adverse effects on the skin and eyes. Little attention is given to physical means of photoprotection, namely glass, window films, sunglasses, and clothing. In…
Sunscreens
Ultraviolet radiation plays a major role in the development of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Photoprotection by sunscreens has been shown to prevent the development of actinic keratosis, squamous cell…
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on the interaction between a photosensitizer, the appropriate wavelength, and oxygen to cause cell death. First introduced about 100 years ago, PDT has continued to evolve in…
UV-Based Therapy
UV phototherapy has a long history of use for the treatment of select diseases in dermatology. Its use has evolved into more effective and targeted modalities, including psoralen + UV-A…
Photoaggravated Disorders
Photoaggravated skin disorders are diseases that occur without UV radiation but are sometimes or frequently exacerbated by UV radiation. In conditions, such as lupus erythematosus, photoaggravation occurs in a majority…
The Cutaneous Porphyrias
The porphyrias are a group of mainly inherited disorders of heme biosynthesis where accumulation of porphyrins and/or porphyrin precursors gives rise to 2 types of clinical presentation: cutaneous photosensitivity and/or…
Drug-Induced Photosensitivity
Drug-induced photosensitivity is common. The principal mechanism of systemic drug photosensitivity is phototoxicity and the principal mechanism of topical drug photosensitivity is photoallergy. Photopatch testing is helpful to determine suspected…
Chronic Actinic Dermatitis
Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is an immunologically mediated photodermatosis characterized by pruritic eczematous and lichenified plaques located predominantly on sun-exposed areas with notable sparing of eyelids, skin folds, and postauricular…
Hydroa Vacciniforme and Solar Urticaria
Hydroa vacciniforme (HV) and solar urticaria (SU) are uncommon immunologically mediated photodermatoses. HV occurs almost exclusively in children, usually beginning in childhood and remitting spontaneously by adolescence. Association with chronic…
Actinic Prurigo
Actinic prurigo is a chronic photodermatosis with onset in childhood or before 20 years of age. It is most prevalent in Amerindians and Latin American mestizos, although it has been…
