Normal minimal erythema dose responses in patients with suspected photosensitivity disorders.

PURPOSE: Our study identified the most common diagnoses in patients with a history of photosensitivity or with a photodistributed eruption and normal minimal erythema dose (MED) responses.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the diagnoses and phototest results of 319 patients who were phototested at the New York University Photomedicine Section of the Charles C. Harris Skin and Cancer Pavilion from 1993 to 2009. Patients were phototested if they had a history of photosensitivity or had an eruption with a distribution that suggested photosensitivity.

RESULTS

The majority of patients with normal MEDs were diagnosed with polymorphous light eruption, followed by contact or photocontact dermatitis, photodistributed dermatitis not otherwise specified (idiopathic), solar urticaria and photoexacerbated atopic dermatitis.

DISCUSSION: The clinical history of photosensitivity and physical findings remain as important metrics in the diagnosis of patients with photodistributed dermatoses and normal MEDs.