Photodermatitis: photos, symptoms and treatment

What is photodermatitis?

Photodermatitis is colloquially referred to as sun allergy, and its symptoms are similar to allergic skin reactions. Most often, symptoms of photodermatitis appear on the face, neck, shoulders, forearms, back and chest.

Photocontact dermatitis should be distinguished from allergic skin reactions caused by other causes, as well as from sunburn.

Photodermatitis

Solar dermatitis can be distinguished from allergies of non-light origin by the fact that it appears only after the skin is exposed to intense solar radiation.

The time it takes for symptoms of photodermatitis to appear after exposure to the sun can be up to 12 hours or more.

The main difference between the manifestations of photodermatitis and sunburn is the presence of a rash.

Symptoms

Photodermatitis, in addition to skin manifestations, can be combined with signs of other allergic reactions and symptoms of concomitant diseases.

The most characteristic symptoms:

Redness of exposed skin;
The appearance of a rash, which may take the form of pastulas (bubbles with purulent contents), vesicles (bubbles with watery contents) or merging red spots rising above the surface of the skin (see photo);

Swelling of the skin;
Severe itching and burning.

Some types of photodermatitis (photodermatosis) result in peeling and the appearance of age spots, which are areas of the skin with a high content of melanin pigment.

Associated allergic reactions may affect:

Mucous membranes of the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis);
Red border of the lips (cheilitis);
Nasal mucous membranes (allergic rhinitis);
Mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract (allergic cough, suffocation).

In severe forms of photodermatitis, the following may be observed:

Fever;
Headache;
Low blood pressure;
Weakness;
Fast fatiguability.

Video about photodermatosis

Symptoms of photodermatosis

Increased sensitivity to the sun causes a range of symptoms similar to sunburn. Most often patients note:

skin redness;
rash;
blisters;
bakery;
swelling

These symptoms actively appear in those areas of the skin that are exposed to direct sunlight. The longer you are in the sun, the more severe the symptoms. Associated symptoms may also occur, such as fever, chills, general malaise, headache, conjunctivitis.

Chronic form

People whose professional activities involve prolonged exposure to the open air sometimes develop chronic photodermatosis.

Its symptoms, in addition to periodically occurring inflammatory stages, are irreversible changes in the skin: the appearance of age spots, spider veins, thickening of the epidermis, elastosis - premature age-related skin degeneration.

With advanced chronic photodermatosis, the skin surface becomes uneven due to increased skin patterns, the appearance of scars, and deep wrinkles. Skin color becomes dark and uneven, with areas of stronger and weaker pigmentation.

Peasants, sailors, and builders are most often susceptible to chronic photodermatoses. For people in these professions, compliance with photodermatosis prevention measures is especially important, because its chronic forms can lead to the development of skin cancer.

Photo of photodermatitis

Photodermatosis - what is it?

Photodermatosis is an inadequate reaction of the skin to sunlight.
There are three options for skin sensitivity to the sun: 1. First, sunburn, which is a normal skin reaction to excessive sunlight or too much time in direct sunlight.

2. Another skin reaction to light is associated with various skin diseases caused by the sun's rays or a disease whose symptoms are aggravated by the sun, such as lupus erythematosus, psoriasis and porphyria 3. And finally, the third skin reaction is photodermatosis or hypersensitivity to the sun.

People suffer from photodermatosis due to an inadequate reaction of the skin to solar radiation, which does not cause any reaction in a healthy person. A related disease of this kind is daylight-induced urticaria.

Diagnostics

You should consult a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment of photodermatitis. To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to establish the cause of this disease.

For this, in addition to assessing the anamnesis and clinical picture, a general and biochemical blood test is prescribed; it may also be necessary to undergo an ultrasound, allergy tests, and rheumatic tests.

During the examination, diseases may be identified that require treatment by other doctors - an allergist, a therapist, a rheumatologist.

Treatment

When thinking about how to treat photodermatitis, you should first of all take measures to protect the patient from exposure to sunlight, otherwise no treatment will be effective.

Treatment of photodermatitis includes relieving inflammation, preventing infection and accelerating skin regeneration. If the disease is endogenous, the disorders in the body that contributed to the development of photodermatitis are simultaneously treated.

For mild forms of photodermatitis, treatment of the affected areas is prescribed:

Panthenol spray, which accelerates skin regeneration processes;
Ointments with methyluracil and zinc, which have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects;
Argosulfan ointment - an antiseptic that has a wound healing effect;
Miramistin ointment is an antimicrobial agent that promotes tissue regeneration.

In case of severe inflammatory process, in addition to the above-mentioned drugs, the following external agents are prescribed:

Syntomycin ointment containing the antibiotic chloramphenicol, which has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects;

Levomekol ointment containing chloramphenicol, which has an antibacterial effect, and methyluracil, which accelerates cell regeneration;
Solcoseryl ointment improves tissue nutrition and has a wound healing effect.

In even more advanced cases, they resort to external glucocorticosteroid preparations, in particular hydrocortisone ointment. This hormonal remedy effectively relieves inflammation, swelling and itching in the affected areas, and helps to quickly get rid of the symptoms of photodermatitis.

If there are signs of general inflammation, then oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Indomethacin, Diclofenac - is prescribed. Oral antihistamines are prescribed to relieve itching. Vitamins C, E, PP, and group B are used as general strengthening agents.

Depending on the severity of the skin lesion, treatment of photodermatitis can last from 2-3 days to several weeks. Treatment of concomitant diseases may take even longer.

If photodermatitis was caused by external factors, then by eliminating the causes that caused it (giving up drugs, cosmetics, etc. that provoke the development of photosensitivity), in most cases it is possible to completely avoid relapses of the disease.

Causes of the anomaly

Photodermatosis can be either congenital or acquired. Dermatologists distinguish between idiopathic, metabolic and exogenous photodermatosis. Idiopathic photodermatosis, as the name suggests, is a skin reaction of unknown origin, the metabolic reaction is associated with metabolic disorders, and the exogenous reaction is caused by external factors, especially drugs and cosmetics. Most often, doctors encounter exogenous photodermatosis, which can be caused by:

antibiotics;
painkillers;
diuretics;
drugs for the treatment of allergies;
birth control hormones or hormone replacement therapy;
antifungal drugs;
some psychotropic drugs;
drugs for the treatment of diabetes;
cosmetics with retinol;
herbs, especially St. John's wort

There are two more important concepts associated with photodermatosis - phototoxic reaction and photoallergic reaction. There are certain chemicals, particularly those found in some cosmetics, that are responsible for the skin's phototoxic reaction to the sun. It can also occur in a healthy person when the sun reacts with these substances.

A photoallergic reaction is a reaction of the immune system to certain substances contained in medications. Del

The fact is that some components of drugs under the influence of the sun are converted into other substances, which then bind to proteins and become allergens for the body. The skin becomes inflamed, resulting in photoallergic eczema and swelling.

Folk remedies

In addition to the methods used in medicine, the following folk remedies can be used to treat mild forms of photodermatitis:

Masks made from finely grated and cooled raw potatoes;
Fresh cabbage leaves, which must be applied to the affected areas, after scratching them to release the juice;
Compresses from chilled herbal decoctions: chamomile, calendula, string, oregano. The decoction is made at the rate of 1-2 tbsp. spoons of dry raw materials per glass of boiling water, incubate for 10 minutes in a water bath. The resulting broth is cooled, clean gauze pads are soaked in it and applied to the affected area.

These products can only be used if there is no damage to the skin accompanied by bleeding, otherwise an infection can occur.

Prevention

To prevent recurrent cases of this disease, persons who have had photodermatitis are advised to:

Eliminate factors that cause skin photosensitization - taking certain medications, using cosmetics and perfumes.
Avoid contact with plants whose sap contributes to the appearance of photodermatitis.
Wear closed clothing, hats with brims and visors, use sunscreen and glasses.
Do not sunbathe in the sun or in solariums.
Treat diseases that cause photodermatitis;
Eat nutritiously, increase the body's defenses.

Those who have not yet encountered this disease, especially those who have light skin that does not tan well, are advised to follow the following measures to prevent photodermatitis:

Do not get carried away with tanning, this can not only cause photodermatosis and the appearance of age spots, but also accelerate the aging process of the skin and lead to cancer.
From May to September, be especially careful when using medications. Read instructions for photosensitizing properties, especially before traveling to seaside resorts.
Use sunscreen when leaving home.

During the summer months, reduce the use of skincare and decorative cosmetics to a minimum. Do not use citrus essential oils before leaving the house.
In the warm months and before traveling to resorts, avoid cosmetic procedures - peelings, products with retinol, acids. Don't get tattoos.
In nature, do not touch dangerous plants - hogweed, angelica, etc.
Eat well, lead a healthy lifestyle, strengthen your immune system.

Allergy to the sun - photodermatitis (photodermatosis) and its prevention

The sun's rays not only warm us with their warmth in spring and summer and make us happy in winter, but also help strengthen our immune system. But, unfortunately, exposure to the open sun can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Sun allergy, photodermatitis (photodermatosis) are diseases caused by increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. This is not at all a rare occurrence. Statistics show that about 20% of people worldwide experience this disease.

Sun allergy actually refers to photodermatitis or photodermatosis. The toxic or allergic effect of the sun occurs when the sun's (ultraviolet) rays interact with any substance located on the skin (exogenous photodermatitis) or in the skin (endogenous photodermatitis).

Allergy to the sun in the form of exogenous photodermatitis

The most striking example of exogenous photodermatitis is the so-called meadow dermatitis. In summer, during the flowering period, many meadow plants secrete special substances - furocoumarins, which settle on the skin when a person is in these places. With simultaneous exposure to ultraviolet radiation, some sensitive people may experience skin redness and blisters (erythema, vesicles, bullae). The rash is accompanied by severe itching. Subsequently, long-term pigmentation remains on the affected areas of the skin.

An allergy to the sun or photodermatitis can also occur if, before going out into the sun, a person sensitive to it applied cream or ointment, or used perfume and deodorant. Substances contained in various cosmetics or perfumes can react with ultraviolet rays and cause an allergic reaction. Such properties are possessed, for example, by eosin, which can be contained in lipstick, and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which is part of some sunscreens. In addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids, retinoids, bergamot oil, St. John's wort, rose, musk, sandalwood, dill juice, parsley, boric acid, salicylic acid, phenol, and mercury preparations have a similar effect.

More often than others, people with fair skin and young children, whose skin defense mechanisms are much weaker, suffer from sun allergies.

Photodermatitis is often caused by many medications. This effect is exerted, in particular, by sulfonamides, barbiturates, aminazine, some antibiotics (doxycycline, tetracycline), antihistamines, some cardiovascular drugs (amiodarone, Trazicor), cytostatics, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin), and oral contraceptives.

In addition, an increased reaction of the skin to the sun's rays appears when the skin is “weakened” by some additional influence - peeling, tattooing using cadmium salts.

Allergy to the sun in the form of endogenous photodermatitis

This group of photodermatitis includes quite rare diseases, in the development of which disturbances in the functioning of the body’s immune system, as well as various metabolic disorders (metabolic disorders), play an important role. Endogenous photodermatitis includes, in particular, porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum, solar eczema, solar prurigo, Hydroa vacciniformia, polymorphic photodermatosis.

Typically, these reactions can occur by two mechanisms: 1) a phototoxic reaction and 2) a photoallergic reaction. Phototoxic reactions are much more common than photoallergic reactions.

How does sun allergy or photodermatitis usually manifest?

The main symptoms of photodermatosis:

redness and inflammation of the skin,
peeling of the skin,
often accompanied by intense itching and burning,
rashes can be in the form of folliculitis (pustules) or papules.

Often this condition does not develop immediately. Unlike a burn, it can occur several hours after you leave the beach, and in some cases even after returning from the resort. A phototoxic reaction can occur within a few hours of sun exposure, while a photoallergic reaction can occur even days after sun exposure.

Increased risk of developing sun allergies:

in people with naturally light skin;
in pregnant women;
in young children;
a number of medications can make skin burns faster - these include tetracycline antibiotics, sulfa drugs, painkillers, etc.;
who has relatives with sun allergies. There is a greater chance of having a sun allergy if you have a sibling or parent with a sun allergy;
also, the presence of atopic dermatitis or another type of dermatitis increases the risk of developing an allergy to the sun;
Some skin allergy symptoms are triggered when your skin is exposed to a certain substance and then sunlight. Some common substances responsible for this type of reaction include fragrances, disinfectants, bleach, and even some chemicals used in sunscreens;
those who abuse tanning beds;
In addition, an allergic reaction from exposure to the sun can also develop in those who the day before performed cosmetic procedures using cadmium salts (tattooing, chemical peeling).

Photosensitizers are the cause of sun allergies

Some vegetables and plants can cause sun sensitivity when they come into contact with the skin. Mango peels, lime juice, parsnips, and celery may cause temporary discoloration (darkening) of the area of skin exposed to the sun. The main phototoxic fruits and vegetables: celery, carrots, rice, parsley, parsnips, and all types of citrus fruits. Therefore, before going to the beach, you should not eat oranges, tangerines or grapefruits. Swelling, redness and itching may occur on the surface of the skin where drops of juice from these fruits remain. And the more active the sun is, the more acute the body’s reaction will be.

Prevention of sun allergies (photodermatitis and photodermatosis)

Unfortunately, there are not many methods for preventing such allergies.

If you have very sensitive skin, make it a rule to sunbathe under a tent or umbrella. Avoid exposure to the sun during peak sun hours (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Protect yourself with a hat and loose clothing made from natural fabrics: linen, cotton. Children have a very weak protective skin reaction, so children under three years old are generally not recommended to be in direct sunlight.

Use sunscreens with high photoprotection from well-known brands, and regularly, at least every two hours. Please note that the cream contains protection against UVB rays (SPF) and UVA rays (PPD) - they are the ones that affect the occurrence of photodermatosis.

It should be noted that wavelength plays an important role. Try not to go to resorts where the sun is especially active.

Recommendations for preventing photoallergy on the beach:

Before going to the beach, you should not use cologne, perfume or regular moisturizers. They contain alcohol, which can cause sunburn in the sun.
In your case, you need to use sunscreen as often as possible. Just pay attention to its composition. Fat-based products can cause allergies. It is better to choose a hypoallergenic spray with a protective SPF factor.
It is better not to use waterproof sunscreen - it clogs the pores, as a result of which ulcers may appear on the skin. When going to the beach, you should opt for a water-soluble product.

If it is not possible to see a doctor, how to relieve acute manifestations of sun allergy?

No way. Only a doctor will be able to understand: the manifestations on the skin relate to phototoxic reactions or are they a manifestation of another disease. Often, “folk” methods only aggravate the course of toxic and allergic reactions.