The impact of photosensitivity disorders on aspects of lifestyle

Photosensitivity disorders involve an abnormal skin reaction to sunlight exposure and affect a substantial percentage of the population. No previous studies have directly compared lifestyle attributes between photosensitive and healthy individuals.

To assess the impact of photosensitivity on time spent outdoors in the U.K., holiday behaviour, use of sunscreens and vitamin D supplements, and employment status.

Questionnaires were completed by ambulant photosensitive and healthy adults aged 18-60 years residing in Greater Manchester.

Forty-five adults with moderate-severe photosensitivity and 124 healthy adults completed the questionnaire. This revealed that photosensitive subjects spent significantly less time outdoors in the U.K. on both summer weekdays (P < 0·01) and summer weekends (P < 0·0001) than healthy subjects, took fewer holidays per year (P < 0·05), and spent less time outdoors on a sunny holiday (P < 0·0001). They wore clothing that covered a wider skin area (P < 0·0001), and use of sunscreen was greater (both frequency of application and area covered) in the photosensitive group outside of holiday time (P < 0·0001), but not when on a sunny holiday, as healthy people increased their sunscreen use at this time. Despite the reduced sun exposure, photosensitive subjects were no more likely to take vitamin D supplements than healthy subjects were; they also exhibited a significantly higher rate of unemployment (P < 0·05).

Photosensitivity disorders negatively influence lifestyle including employment status; more attention is required to the socioeconomic impact of these conditions.