Photosensitivity refers to various symptoms, diseases, and conditions (photodermatoses) caused or exacerbated by exposure to sunlight. It is classified into five categories: primary photodermatosis, exogenous photodermatosis, photo-exacerbated dermatoses, metabolic photodermatosis, and genetic photodermatosis.
Primary or autoimmune photodermatoses
Polymorphic light eruption
Juvenile spring eruption
Actinic folliculitis
Actinic prurigo
Solar urticaria
Chronic actinic/photosensitivity dermatitis
Hydroa vacciniforme (associated with Epstein-Barr virus)
Exogenous or drug/chemical-induced photodermatoses
Drug-induced photosensitivity: common photosensitizing drugs are thiazides, tetracyclines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), phenothiazines, voriconazole, quinine, vemurafenib, and many others
Photocontact dermatitis: due to phototoxic chemicals such as psoralens in plants, vegetables, fruit; fragrances in cosmetics; sunscreen chemicals; dyes and disinfectants
Pseudoporphyria: induced by drugs and/or renal insufficiency
Photo-exacerbated or photo-aggravated dermatoses
Usually:
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (acute, subacute and chronic variants)
Dermatomyositis
Sjogren syndrome
Darier disease
Rosacea
Melasma
Sometimes:
Pemphigus vulgaris
Pemphigus foliaceus
Atopic dermatitis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Psoriasis
Lichen planus (actinicus)
Erythema multiforme
Mycosis fungoides
Metabolic photodermatoses (rare)
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Erythropoietic protoporphyria
Variegate porphyria
Erythropoietic porphyria (Gunther disease)
Genetic photodermatoses (very rare disorders due to genomic instability)
Xeroderma pigmentosum
Cockayne syndrome
Trichothiodystrophy
Bloom syndrome
Rothmund Thomson syndrome
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