Solar urticaria. Clinical features and wavelength dependence

Abstract

Solar urticaria, an uncommon photosensitivity disorder, may be disabling for affected patients, especially those who react after short exposures to artificial or natural light. The spectrodermograph, a newly developed instrument, permits rapid, accurate determination of the action spectrum of solar urticaria. It consists of a xenon arc lamp with an emission dispersed into used to establish the wavelengths responsible for solar urticaria in 12 patients during the past four years. Knowledge of the wavelengths responsible for producing the urticarial reaction has implications for selecting appropriate therapy. The clinical course of these patients is also reviewed.

Cetirizine for Solar Urticaria in the Visible Spectrum

“…Various wavelengths, such as ultraviolet B (UVB:290–320 nm), ultraviolet A (UVA:320–400 nm) and visible light (VIS:400–760 nm), can be responsible for the condition [2, 3, 4, 5]. Many therapies, such as phototherapy, photochemotherapy, H 1 and H 2 antihistamines, steroids, carotenoids or hydroxychloroquine, have been proposed, but their effectiveness is disappointing [6].…”

Infrared radiation increases skin damage induced by other wavelengths in solar urticaria

“…There are two types: type I, characterized by the presence of an abnormal chromophore, and type II, characterized by a normal chromophore that evokes specific circulating IgE antibodies (24). Most series published to date have attributed solar urticaria to the effects of light in the visible range or in the visible and UVA range (6)(7)(8)25). In our series, all four patients reacted to both of these wavelengths and two of them additionally reacted to UVB.…”

Lichturtikaria

“…Lichturtikaria häufiger als Männern befallen zu sein [40,62].Die Erkrankung tritt weltweit auf und wird bei allen Rassen und ethnischen Gruppen einschließlich der schwarzen Rasse beobachtet [46]. Meist manifestiert sich die Lichturtikaria zwischen dem 20. und 40.Lebensjahr [40,62].Sie kann aber auch zwischen 2 bzw.…”