What Is Photosensitivity?
Photosensitivity refers to the amount of reactivity an object has when it receives photons, especially in situations when there is visible light. In medicine, photosensitivity is a term used to describe abnormal reactions the skin has when there is light. It can be divided into photoallergy and phototoxicity.
Photosensitivity has been observed in both humans and animals. In humans, it can take various forms. Some are more sensitive while in others, it is due to a side effect of medications (such as tetracycline antibiotics, sulfonamides, and heart drugs like amiodarone). There are also dietary supplements that can lead to photosensitivity. Some conditions such as porphyria, systemic lupus erythematosus, and xeroderma pigmentosum are also more sensitive to light. In animals, photosensitivity has been observed in horses, bovine, and sheep. It can be due to ingestion of plants such as St John’s wort, buckwheat plants (horses), and biserrula (in sheep).
