[Photodermatoses during childhood].

Actinic dermatitis and phototoxic and idiopathic photodermatoses occur relatively often during childhood. Photodermatoses stemming from enzyme defects and genetic disorders are much less common, while photoallergic and chronic actinic dermatitis have not been dealt with to date. A specific sensitivity of a child's skin to light is often the first manifest clinical symptom of a photodermatosis, the key is to ensure early diagnosis. However, it is often difficult to reach a diagnosis, as the lesions are barely perceptible or have even healed by the time the patient is examined. This is why photoprovocation tests are so important in diagnosing photodermatoses, particularly during childhood. In addition to early diagnosis of these illnesses and offering the appropriate treatment, it is also crucial that the parents be well informed and aware of what symptoms to look for so that they can protect their children from overexposure to UV light and thereby avoid later actinic injuries that can become as serious as malignancies.