Carotenoid treatment for light sensitivity: a reappraisal and six years' experience

Long-term treatment with oral carotenoids in 57 patients suffering from a variety of photodermatoses and disorders associated with cutaneous light sensitivity was evaluated. All patients were treated for two or more 6-month periods in separate years. Best therapeutic results were seen in PMLE patients, a good to excellent therapeutic response was noted for 65% of all patients, increasing to 81% of those assigned to skin types III and IV, and decreasing to 47% of those with skin types I and II. The therapeutic effect observed in disorders characterized by other mechanisms than provocation by solar radiation per se was less conspicuous, viz. for light-sensitive psoriasis and lupus erythematosus. Even here, therapeutic failure seems to be more common in individuals with skin types I and II than for skin types III and IV. Photodermatoses such as persistent light reaction, actinic reticuloid and solar urticaria did not respond to any significant degree to carotenoid treatment. Our findings would appear to justify further treatment with oral carotenoids in selected cases of PMLE, and a higher dosage level may be tried for non-responding individuals with light-sensitive psoriasis and DLE or SLE. Serious side effects have not been observed in spite of long-term therapy lasting several years.