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Autops Case Rep 2021 12;11:e2021247. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Autonomous Metropolitan University Xochimilco, Department of Health Care, Mexico City, Mexico.

Actinic prurigo (AP) is a type of photodermatosis that primarily affects the Latin American mestizo population. Histologically, AP cheilitis exhibits acanthosis with spongiosis and vacuolation of the basal cell layer overlying a dense lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate that forms well-defined lymphoid follicles. Toluidine blue is a thiazide, acidophilic, and metachromatic dye used to selectively stain the acidic components of tissues such as sulfates, carboxylates, and phosphate radicals that are incorporated into DNA and RNA. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2021 Jul 30;101(7):adv00513. Epub 2021 Jul 30.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.

Biomedica 2020 09 1;40(3):487-497. Epub 2020 Sep 1.

Unidad de Investigaciones, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.

Introduction: Actinic prurigo is a chronic photodermatosis. It affects the Latin American population more frequently, predominantly women, and involves the sun-exposed areas of the skin, conjunctiva, and lips. Objective: To update the information on the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and treatment of patients with actinic prurigo in Colombia. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Nov 31;37(6):1176-1178. Epub 2020 Aug 31.

Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Actinic prurigo is a rare, idiopathic chronic photodermatosis of childhood characterized by excoriated papules, nodules, and plaques in sun-exposed areas. It is notoriously difficult to treat. The disorder involves a type IV hypersensitivity reaction driven by both Th1 and Th2 inflammatory pathways, the latter of which leads to secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and production of B cells, IgE, and IgG4. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2020 06;156(6):697-698

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Jul 27;37(4):695-697. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.

We report a case of a newly recognized primary immunodeficiency due to biallelic mutations in CARMIL2 manifesting as an actinic prurigo-like photodermatitis, allergic diathesis and recurrent infections in a child. We present this case to highlight a rare phenotype seen in this T-cell immunodeficiency and provide an overview of other dermatologic manifestations among published reports of this condition. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Mar 25;37(2):362-365. Epub 2019 Dec 25.

Dermatology Department, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Monterrey, México.

Actinic prurigo (AP) is an immune-mediated photodermatosis that usually starts in childhood and is predominant among American indigenous and mestizo communities. In adults with AP, thalidomide is the treatment of choice; however, there is little information on its use in pediatric patients. We report the case of a 10-year-old girl with AP treated successfully with thalidomide. Read More

Dermatol Clin 2020 Jan 18;38(1):71-77. Epub 2019 Oct 18.

Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health System, 3031 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 800, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. Electronic address:

Ultraviolet light (UV) and visible light are important components in the diagnosis of photodermatoses, and UV has the unique ability to also be used to manage photodermatoses. Phototesting, provocative light testing, and photopatch testing can provide important information in diagnosing patients with photodermatoses; phototesting can be used to determine the starting dose for phototherapy in these patients. Once photosensitivity is established, narrowband UVB and UVA1 therapy have helped to improve the quality of life of photosensitive patients, such as those with polymorphous light eruption, chronic actinic dermatitis, and solar urticaria. Read More

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2020 Mar 22;36(2):105-110. Epub 2019 Oct 22.

Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario de la Fundacion Santafe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Actinic prurigo is a chronic photodermatosis of unclear pathogenesis. Epidermal Langerhans cell resistance to migration after ultraviolet radiation exposure has been proposed as a possible mechanism, as occurs in polymorphic light eruption patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of solar-simulated radiation (SSR) on epidermal Langerhans cells in the uninvolved skin of actinic prurigo patients. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2019 Nov 27;58(11):e220-e221. Epub 2019 Jul 27.

Department of Dermatology, General Hospital "Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico.

Eur J Dermatol 2018 Dec;28(6):850-851

Department of Dermatology, General Hospital "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Mexico City, Mexico.

Actas Dermosifiliogr (Engl Ed) 2019 May 25;110(4):309-310. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2019 Feb;56(1):32-40

Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9069, USA.

Photo-contact dermatitis (PCD) describes the adverse cutaneous reaction that occurs in some patients as a result of simultaneous exposure to a contactant and to light. PCD can be subdivided into photo-allergic and photo-irritant dermatitis depending on whether the contactant respectively invokes an allergic or irritant reaction. Photo-irritant reactions are commonly caused by plants, psoralens, and medications taken internally, whereas photo-allergic reactions are commonly caused by sunscreens and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Read More

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2018 Apr-Jun;61(2):225-227

Department of Stomatology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Actinic prurigo (AP) is an idiopathic photodermatosis; the initial manifestations usually occur during the first decades of life but can appear at any age. Cases are usually diagnosed late once the lesions have exacerbated; due to the extensive involvement of the vermilion border and the etiology, it has been confused with and related to a potentially malignant process. Syndecan-1 and E-cadherin were positive in the epidermis, with moderate-to-intense staining in 100% of samples. Read More

J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2017 Dec;47(4):345-350

H Naasan, Dermatology Department, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK. Email:

Background The Scottish Photobiology Service is the national referral pathway for patients with cutaneous photosensitivity diseases in Scotland. We reviewed the pattern of diagnosis of photosensitivity diseases and investigations performed between 1989 and 2015. Methods and Results Data were collected from the Photodiagnostic Database, annual reports and paper records. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2017 Nov-Dec;92(6):774-778

Dermatology Department, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Actinic prurigo (AP) is an idiopathic photodermatosis. Although its initial manifestations can appear in 6 to 8-year-old children, cases are diagnosed later, between the second and fourth decades of life, when the injuries are exacerbated.

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with clinical manifestations of AP such as skin and mucosal lesions. Read More

Dermatol Reports 2017 Mar 1;9(1):7050. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Department of Dermatology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.

Actinic prurigo is a pruritic sun-induced dermatosis classified among the immunologically mediated photodermatoses. The disease is a well-known entity among Native Americans and in Central and South America, however rare in Caucasians with only a few reports from Australia, Britain and France. We report the first case of actinic prurigo in a Scandinavian patient, responding favorably to systemic treatment with cyclosporine A. Read More

Photochem Photobiol Sci 2017 Sep;16(9):1471-1479

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, "Scuola Medica Salernitana" University of Salerno, Italy.

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is described as a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) toward a de novo light-induced antigen, yet to be identified. In effect, the inflammatory pathways of PLE and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) share common patterns in terms of the mediators involved from the innate and adaptive immune system participating in the DTHR. As we have previously highlighted the role of interleukin (IL)-1 family members in ACD, we hypothesised that the same mediators could have similar functions in PLE. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2017 Nov;97(10):1196-1201

Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clínic and IDIBAPS (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer), Barcelona, Spain.

Patients with photodermatoses or actinic keratosis benefit from very high ultraviolet B-ultraviolet A (UVB-UVA) photoprotection. However, poor compliance is an issue that jeopardizes adequate protection, leading to disease recurrence. This study evaluated the efficacy of a daily protective moisturizer with high UVB and UVA photoprotection applied 8 h before irradiation. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2017 Oct 23;108(8):752-757. Epub 2017 May 23.

Dermatology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is a common idiopathic photodermatosis that typically presents with pruritic papular or papulovesicular lesions on sun-exposed skin between spring and autumn. In many subjects PLE is mild, and can usually be prevented by the use of broad-spectrum topical sunscreens and a gradual increase in sunlight exposure. However, in some individuals, sunlight exposure results in florid PLE and they often benefit from prophylactic desensitization treatment using phototherapy in early spring, an artificial method that induces a "hardening" phenomenon. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2017 Jun 27;56(6):e135-e136. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

Dermatology, Dr. Manuel Gea González, General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.

Clin Dermatol 2016 Nov - Dec;34(6):724-735. Epub 2016 Jul 12.

University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Farmington, CT.

Photodermatoses are a group of skin disorders caused by abnormal reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Photodermatoses are divided into four groups: (1) immunologically mediated photodermatoses; (2) chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses; (3) photoaggravated dermatoses; and (4) hereditary photodermatoses. This contribution discusses differences in the approach and diagnosis of pediatric and adult patients with suspected photodermatoses, focusing on immunologically mediated photodermatoses and chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2016 Nov 4;30(11):e140-e142. Epub 2015 Nov 4.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Exp Dermatol 2016 12;25(12):999-1001

Research Unit for Photodermatology, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

The primary trigger of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) remains to be uncovered. We hypothesize that PLE may be initiated by elements resulting from UV-induced damage to microbial communities of the skin, leading to a cascade of events eventually resulting in the skin rash of the disease. One mechanism by which epidermal injury by UV radiation could trigger PLE are danger signals such as damage or pathogen associated molecular patterns DAMP/PAMPs or commensal-associated molecular patterns (CAMPs). Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2016 Jun;26(3):304-6

Photobiology Unit, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital for Skin, Venereal Diseases, First Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Greece - 5 I Dragoumi Str, 16121 Athens.

An Bras Dermatol 2016 Jan-Feb;91(1):23-6

Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Actinic prurigo is an idiopathic photodermatosis, the pathophysiology of which has been hypothesized to involve subtype IV type b (Th2) hypersensitive response, whereby IL4, IL5, and IL13 are secreted and mediate the production of B cells, IgE, and IgG4.

Objectives: To examine the association of serum IgE levels and the clinical severity of injuries.

Methods: This case-control study comprised patients with a clinical and histopathological diagnosis of actinic prurigo, as well as clinically healthy subjects, from whom 3cc of peripheral blood was taken for immunoassay. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2016 Jun;38(6):418-22

*Department of Pathology, Division of Dermatopathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; †Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, Mexico City, Mexico; Departments of ‡Pathology, and §Dermatology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX; ¶Hospital General De Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; ‖Division of Dermatology and Pathology, Hospital Obrero, La Paz, Bolivia; and **Department of Pathology, Dental School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Actinic prurigo (AP) is a chronic idiopathic photodermatosis that primarily affects American Indians in the United States and Mestizos in Latin American countries. Clinically, the onset of the disease is usually in the first decade of life but may appear initially in adult life, and it is characterized by symmetric involvement of sun-exposed areas of the skin, particularly areas of the face, resulting in polymorphic erythematous papules, macules, and plaques in different stages of evolution. Lower lip involvement includes swelling, scaling, fissures, hyperpigmentation, and ulcerations of the vermilion border. Read More