What Is Photosensitivity?
5. Signs and Symptoms
Patients may present with complaints about being unable to tolerate sunlight. A normal person would be able to tolerate minutes or hours of exposure to the sun. However, those with sensitivity will start exhibiting skin lesions that appear like a sunburn or dermatitis. In those with pseudoporphyria, the affected area has a bullous reaction (fluid-filled blister) while in lichenoid reactions, there are plaques and papules that appear.
The skin can also become erythematous (red) and scaly. These lesions are often only seen on areas that are exposed to the sun. Once healed, there is often hyperpigmentation that takes weeks or months to resolve. Separation of the nail can also be seen in the use of systemic medications such as chloramphenicol, psoralen, and more.
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