Chronic actinic dermopathy--a clinical study in Ladakh

A total of 176 highlander Ladakhis staying at Leh (Ladakh) at an altitude of 3445 meters were examined for skin changes on the exposed parts of the body. 111 (63.07%) had pigmentation over forehead, cheeks, nose or chin, 53 (30.11%) had telangiectasia over nose, cheeks or ear lobules, 21 (11.93%) had thickening and furrowing over forehead or lateral aspect of the eyes and only 5 (2.82%) had solar keratosis. Pigmentation and telangiectasia though seen in the first decade of life with prevalence rate seen as 48% and 24% respectively, the maximum prevalence has been seen in the second and third decade (79.22% and 25.97% and 62.96% and 48.15% respectively). Thickening and furrowing is seen most commonly in the fifth and sixth decade, which also leads to decreased prevalence of pigmentation and telangiectasia. Telangiectasia as a skin change to prolonged exposure to short wave length UV radiation has not been described by Eguren in 1972. Dilatation of the blood vessels in the dermis described by him correlates well with our finding of telangiectasia. Thus skin changes of pigmentation, telangiectasia, thickening and furrowing of the sun exposed skin and histopathological changes of Egurer s HA Dermopathy should be included in the syndrome of chronic actinic dermopathy.