Lichtallergien und andere Lichtempfindlichkeitsreaktionen

Adverse reactions of the skin to light comprise a number of different dermatologic conditions. In light-‘allergies’ in the narrower sense non-ionised electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet (UV)-A/-B radiation or visible light) provokes an immunologic or allergic skin reaction. These include solar urticaria, an, immunoglobulin E-mediated, immediate-type allergic photoreaction, photoallergic contact dermatitis and photoallergic (drug) exanthema, which are cell-mediated, delayed-type allergic photoreactions due to photosensitization, chronic actinic dermatitis and polymorphic light eruption. Beyond it there are nonimmunologic photosensitive and photoaggravated skin diseases, like exogenous and endogenous phototoxicity, xeroderma pigmentosum, which is based on a genetic defect, or the autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus.