Due to the urgency of the development of sun allergy (photodermatosis), which worsens or first manifests itself in the summer, we have prepared answers to some basic questions that may arise.
Many photodermatoses do not pose a threat to a person, although they frighten him with acute manifestations.
But some photosensitive dermatoses can signal serious systemic disorders, and the task in this case – to make the correct diagnosis in a timely manner, prescribe examination and treatment. Find out more about sun allergy at estet-portal.com.
- Which definition is most accurate for photodermatosis and photosensitivity
- What are the causes that often provoke allergy to the sun
- Is there a classification of dermatoses in case of sun allergy and on what basis
- What are the main symptoms of allergy to the sun
Which definition is most accurate for photodermatosis and photosensitivity
Most consider photosensitivity to be a manifestation of dermatosis or its exacerbation caused by exposure to sunlight. Photodermatosis is manifested most often by itching & nbsp; and soreness of the skin, swelling, redness, rashes, notes estet-portal.com. Sometimes photosensitivity does not appear immediately, and patients do not associate painful sensations on the skin with excessive insolation.
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The doctor should not only ask the patient in detail about when the first symptoms appeared, what medications he took or how he treated the skin, but also make sure that the skin is affected in photo-illuminated areas, which clearly indicates the dependence of dermatosis on exposure to the sun. Please note that drug-induced sun allergy is very similar to sunburn, but occurs in response to low dose of sun exposure.
What are the causes that often provoke an allergy to the sun
Priority among the causes of photosensitive dermatosis is kept by medications (both topical and systemic). Moreover, the list of drugs that can cause an allergy to the sun is constantly expanding.
A common cause of acute photosensitive dermatosis is the application of cosmetic products containing methylcoumarin, as well as the consumption of certain plants containing furocoumarins (for example, lemon, rosehip, celery, fig tree, and many others).
Chronic photodermatosis is most often caused by polymorphic light rashes.
You should remember that exposure to sunlight can exacerbate other skin conditions that are similar to symptoms of photosensitive photodermatosis.
How to deal with cosmetic allergies
We are talking about some dermatoses that are provoked by the herpes virus, as well as erythema multiforme, granuloma annulare, erythematous pemphigus. Careful history taking, attention to symptoms, diagnostic tests will help to correctly diagnose sun allergy and start treatment in a timely manner.
Is there a classification of dermatoses in case of sun allergy and on what basis
Sun allergy is usually classified into acute and chronic. Acute photosensitive dermatosis develops after sun exposure, which occurred for a short time – several minutes or hours. A classic example of acute photosensitive dermatosis – sunburn.
Acute photodermatoses also commonly include solar urticaria, erythropoietic porphyria, phototoxic drug reaction, photocontact dermatitis.
Chronic sun allergy manifests itself less acutely and painfully, but proceeds stubbornly and requires painstaking long-term treatment. Such photodermatoses include, for example, discoid lupus erythematosus, actinic reticuloid, late porphyria, polymorphic solar rashes. Some forms of skin cancer are also linked to chronic exposure to the sun.
Questions to ask the patient if they are allergic to the sun:
• How long did it take between exposure to the sun and the breakouts?
• Have you had similar rashes before, how often, at what time of the year? (Some photodermatoses recur only in spring or summer, others appear only once.)
• Have relatives had similar rashes or other symptoms? (Photosensitive dermatitis may be hereditary).
• Has the skin been treated with something shortly before sun exposure? (Sun allergies can be triggered by soaps, creams, perfumes, and other cosmetics.)
• What medications does the patient take orally? (A number of drugs may cause sun allergy.)
What are the main symptoms of sun allergy
What else in a health condition is of concern and indicates the likelihood of photodermatosis? Some photodermatoses are accompanied by pain in the abdomen, increased pressure, and other symptoms.
The most important sign by which a sun allergy is determined is the localization of skin lesions: usually rashes or red spots appear in areas where sunlight hits.
The face and neck, décolleté, shoulders, back of the hands are most exposed to insolation. If we are talking about an allergy to the sun caused by a substance applied to the skin, then it is precisely those areas where perfume or cosmetics have got that are affected.
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