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Solar urticaria: case report and phototesting with lasers
1Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|March 5, 1998
Summary
Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare skin condition causing hives after sun exposure. Lasers effectively diagnosed a patient with SU whose condition was resistant to standard light testing, revealing a high-threshold, red light sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Photobiology
Background:
- Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare photosensitivity disorder.
- It manifests as immediate itching, erythema, and whealing upon exposure to sunlight or artificial radiation.
Observation:
- A patient with suspected SU showed no photosensitivity to standard light sources (slide projector, UVA/UVB bulbs).
- Urtication was successfully provoked using an argon-pumped dye laser at 610 nm, 650 nm, and 690 nm.
Findings:
- This case highlights the utility of lasers in diagnosing SU, particularly in cases with atypical light sensitivity.
- Lasers, especially at longer visible wavelengths, can effectively phototest patients with high-threshold, red light-induced SU.
Implications:
- Argon-pumped dye lasers serve as valuable diagnostic tools for specific SU presentations.
- Standard phototesting methods may be insufficient for diagnosing SU triggered by longer visible light wavelengths.