Transient and persistent photosensitivity due to musk ambrette. Clinical and photobiological studies

Musk ambrette caused contact photosensitivity in five patients. One patient showed transient light reactivity and four showed persistent light reactivity. Tests with artificial radiation were performed on normal skin without musk ambrette being added. All patients reacted abnormally to UV-B and three to UV-A. In particular the patient with transient light reactivity showed abnormal responses to UV-B and UV-A. The patients were not always aware of the role of sunlight in the development of their eruption and the clinical features were not always typical of a photodermatitis.