Sun protection in the treatment of photodermatoses

Abstract

Light-sensitive skin diseases are known as photodermatoses. Photosensitivity is either an increased and/or unusual reaction to normal light, or an unusual skin reaction –as clinical symptoms-. to lower dose or different composition of light. Genetic and environmental factors have different characteristic roles in their development. Symptoms may develop through metabolic, immunological, or unknown (idiopathic) mechanisms. In many cases, the avoidance of the triggering light and sun protection are of important in the prevention of skin symptoms and in the treatment of photodermatoses. However, the patients' quality of life is negatively affected not only by the symptoms, but also by the daily application of sun protection itself. In this article, the authors highlight that in different photodermatoses, depending on their pathomechanism, different special photoprotection is necessary, and the methods used in the average population are not sufficient.
Therefor, the use of disease (action spectrum) – specific, effective, and as simple as possible photoprotection methods is desirable.