Diagnosis: Chronic actinic dermatitis
Case submitted by Shahbaz A. Janjua to the dermRounds community.
Clinical photograph(s) submitted for peer review and discussion.
Submitted by Shahbaz A. Janjua. Originally posted March 10, 2010.
See case discussion.
• Lupus erythematosus • Solar urticaria • Photoallergic drug eruption • Erythema multiforme • Actinic prurigo • Porphyria
• Most common photodermatosis — pruritic papules/plaques on sun-exposed skin in spring/early summer • "Hardening" phenomenon: lesions improve with repeated sun exposure as summer progresses • Consistent morphology within individual patients but polymorphic between patients • Delayed onset: hours to days after UV exposure (distinguishes from solar urticaria) • More common in fair-skinned, females, and in northern latitudes • Photoprotection and controlled phototherapy ("desensitization") before summer are effective
Tags: chronic, actinic, dermatitis, shahbaz a. janjua