Photosensitivity Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Unnati Patel

Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Primary Care Physician)

Dr Patel graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine. She worked in clinical research at the University of Illinois in Chicago and University of Nevada in Las Vegas focused on culturally adapted health interventions for preventive medicine in the community setting. Received her Master's of Science in Global Health (concentration in Health Policy) from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. Unnati went on to complete her family medicine residency in Chicago, Illinois at Norwegian American Hospital. | | She is currently working as a primary care physician in the city of Chicago and completing her Master's of Business Administration at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Fellowship in Leadership in Value-Based Care.

Yoshinori Abe

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)

Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Redness

  • Leg rash

  • Red rash

  • Hand skin is dry

  • There is a sore on the side

  • Pink rash

  • Rash on the wrist

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Learn more about Photosensitivity

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is photosensitivity?

A condition in which the skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. It can be caused by medications and autoimmune disease (body's immune system attacking its own cells).

Symptoms of photosensitivity

  • Redness in sun-exposed areas of skin

  • Skin abnormality

  • Skin redness or red bumpy rashes

  • Affected area is warm to touch

  • Redness where the medicated patch was applied

  • Blisters

  • Skin problem on the chest, tummy or back

  • Skin Itching

Questions your doctor may ask to check for photosensitivity

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose photosensitivity

  • Do you have redness on the sun-exposed areas of your skin?

  • Do you have any skin problems?

  • Do you have red skin or red spots on the skin?

  • Is the affected area of your body hot to touch?

  • Is the skin where the medicated patch was applied reddish in color?

Treatment for photosensitivity

Treatment depends on the cause. Creams and pain relievers can help alleviate symptoms. Meanwhile, avoiding sunlight and using sunscreen will prevent symptoms from worsening.

View the symptoms of Photosensitivity

References

  • Hofmann GA, Weber B. Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, potential mechanisms and clinical consequences. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2021 Jan;19(1):19-29. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14314. PMID: 33491908; PMCID: PMC7898394.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddg.14314

  • Momin N, Phan P, Ali AA, I Ali H, Seeger CM, Joseph M. Benzodiazepine-induced photosensitivity reactions: A compilation of cases from literature review with Naranjo causality assessment. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2021 Nov;37(6):505-510. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12691. Epub 2021 May 26. PMID: 33966295.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12691

  • Lugović-Mihić L, Duvančić T, Ferček I, Vuković P, Japundžić I, Ćesić D. Drug-Induced Photosensitivity - a Continuing Diagnostic Challenge. Acta Clin Croat. 2017 Jun;56(2):277-283. doi: 10.20471/acc.2017.56.02.11. PMID: 29485795.

    https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/274971

  • Ibbotson S . Drug and chemical induced photosensitivity from a clinical perspective. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2018 Dec 5;17(12):1885-1903. doi: 10.1039/c8pp00011e. PMID: 30283959.

    https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/PP/C8PP00011E

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Unnati Patel

Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Primary Care Physician)

Dr Patel graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine. She worked in clinical research at the University of Illinois in Chicago and University of Nevada in Las Vegas focused on culturally adapted health interventions for preventive medicine in the community setting. Received her Master's of Science in Global Health (concentration in Health Policy) from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. Unnati went on to complete her family medicine residency in Chicago, Illinois at Norwegian American Hospital. | | She is currently working as a primary care physician in the city of Chicago and completing her Master's of Business Administration at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Fellowship in Leadership in Value-Based Care.

Yoshinori Abe

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)

Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.

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Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD

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Kameda Medical Center, Japan

Yu Shirai

Yu Shirai, MD

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Yotsuya Yui Clinic, Japan

Yoshinori Abe

Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal medicine

Co-founder of Ubie, Inc.

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