What is an "actinic dermatitis"?

Unfortunately, marvelous refreshment, bliss, heat and recovery mean pruritus, vesicle or wheals and partly infernal pains, rather tormenting the topic "vacation, sun, beach and sea", for some people instead of. But what is behind this unpleasant phenomenon which is confessed generally under the idea of the actinic dermatitis?

It can be one of the following illnesses at an actinic dermatitis:

(1) polymorphic light dermatosis (PMD)
(2) Majorca acne
(3) photo allergic reactions

The troubles usually start in the spring with the first stronger insolation to then get gradually weaker in the course of the summer because the skin has got used to the rays. During a sun vacation and the considerably more intensive sun action associated with that the troubles often break out, however, again. Fair-skinned persons and people with a sensitive skin are particularly frequently concerned.

Cause of the photo allergic skin reactions is a hypersensitivity opposite the UV rays of the sunlight. You are involved in the emergence of a sunburn primarily and play a leading role in the actinic dermatitis.

The skin reacts with UVA and UVB radiate as well as ozone salary increased to irradiation by the cells of the upper skin layers putting a protective mechanism into gait. Pigmentophores are activated to form the dye melatonin which shall protect the sensitive structures of the cell against the damaging consequences of the sunbeams. The topmost skin layer (cornea) thickens simultaneously and forms the so-called light callosity, uniting additional protection "from the burning sun effect". Each of too much to UVA and UVB intensity of radiation can activate sensitive cells to the change of the genetic information. As a consequence an accelerated skin ageing develops particularly with fair-skinned people with plication and in some cases skin cancer arises.

Species of actinic dermatitis

The most frequent of the actinic dermatitises concerns preferentially skin games polymorphic light dermatosis (PMD) which are not used to the sun yet 1 (part, shoulders, napes)). The PMD usually speaks with wheals, itching spot or vesicle. The UVA radiation is responsible for these skin phenomena. Young women are usually affected by it. The skin phenomena the vacation aren't predictable very well and often disappear after approximately one to three weeks sun acclimatization or them kick only on on the south open. The intake of beta caroten (provitamin A) is recommended beginningly roundly one month before beginning of the journey to the prevention. One starts with a dose from 75 to 100 milligrams, is reduced to 50 milligrams after two weeks. This dose should be taken also during the vacation. The use of sun protective substances is also important with a high UVA protection. Products came off into tests with the light protection filter "Mexoryl" best. At strong troubles a gradual phototherapy can make sense for the acclimatization of the skin to the light at the dermatologist.

Majorca acne is a special form of the actinic dermatitis 2 the Majorca acne). It frequently appears during the summer vacation in southern countries. It, however, isn't a true allergy but around an incompatibility. It appears by reactions between the UV light of the sun and contents substances of the sun protective substances or other body maintenance mediums. The décolletage, neck, nape, shoulders, upper arms and back are usually concerned on the skin -- , small acne like nodules and red, horny arise. One holds primarily emulsifiers, additions which connect watery and fat contents substances to a cream easy to spread, responsible for this reaction. The use of sun gels recommends itself to the prevention with a high UVA light protection. These means are fat-free and therefore don't need emulsifiers. They can therefore be a little too tight on the skin, though. Caution: The addition "hypoallergen" on the packing only means that the contents substances were tested on their own allergy potential nothing says, however, about the actinic dermatitis potential. Are important instead of the details like "emulsifier free", "fat-free" or "gel." In addition, one also should around the sunbath, other fatty maintenance mediums within the days how body lotions avoid. More is always refined, only still few people suffer from this actinic dermatitis since the composition of today's light protective substances.

Many form substances photo allergic reactions by reaction with the sunlight dissimilation products which can trigger allergies or skin discolorations, what, as a "photo allergic reaction") marked 3 is. E.g. certain drugs (e.g. antibiotics, antiphlogistic medicines, dehydration means, or the contact is part of it celery, parsley, citrus fruits, juice with plants (), as well as perfume or even the fig tree, acanthus some reconcile antiperfümed creams. You should have to durably take drugs, you clarify before your vacation whether there can be problems with the sun. Is advisable at known allergies on the chemical filters of the light protection preparations to employ sun means with exclusively mineral filters, micro pigments like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. There is a greater choice of protection against the sun with micro pigments on the market meanwhile.

Diagnosis position

primarily with the symptoms which the patient describes (anamnesis), i.e. primarily where and when the troubles appear.

Therapy/medical treatment

At first the treatment of the polymorphic light dermatosis very simply consists in the avoid of the solar radiation.

Otherwise:
  • Using only light protective substance, this one containing highly effective UV A filters. UV B filters suffice for the normal light protection against sunburn, normal light protective substances aren't appropriate at actinic dermatitis.
  • possible intake of antihistamines into tablet shape
  • To the prevention intake of beta carotene and nicotinamide (respectively four weeks before vacation beginning) in high dosages!
  • Preventive intake of calcium possibly reduces the allergic skin symptoms.
  • At appear of skin changes in need of treatment short-time application of Cortison creams or lotions, in difficult cases also of cortisontablets (antiphlogistic and pruritus calming). Modern cortisonanoint are skin wholesome very well since they penetrate rapidly and are dismantled after short time again. This way they only work on the spot and hardly reach other areas of the body. Cortisonanoint, however, shouldn't be immediately used in front of the insolation. Tips for "sun people suffering from an allergy"
Whether the vacation brings about joy and recovery by the sea or in the mountains depends on the appropriate precautionary measures against sunburn or sun allergy in the end:
  • Avoid a direct insolation!
  • Finding shadows, the UV rays are strong enough, though, to be able to cause photo allergic reactions also in the shadow.
  • Accustoming the skin to the sun slowly, increasing the duration of the sunbaths only slowly.
  • Avoiding the intensive midday sun from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m..
  • Cotton lets through only 10% of the UVA radiation synthetic fiber from natural fiber like cotton or linen wear light clothes (however up to 50%).
  • Use low-fat and emulsifier poor body and sun nursing care products! Fats and emulsifiers in the nursing care products can trigger Majorca acne with sensitive people.
  • You do without at the sunbathe on perfume, soaps and aftershave lotion (volatile oils contained in it) can favor photo allergic reactions!
  • Use sun protective substance with a high protection factor!
  • Take care at the choice of the sun protective substances that instead of a chemical one a physical light protection (mineral filters, micro pigments like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) is rather used! He isn't changed by the sun radiation and therefore is particularly skin friendly. Chemical filters can trigger allergic skin reactions.
  • If you take medicines: You speak photo allergic reactions resulting with your physician about possible interactions with sunbeams and from this, such as at taking of antibiotics
  • A sensitive child skin reacts to an excessive insolation particularly severely and gets a sunburn as adult skin more rapidly; childlike sunburns increase the later skin cancer risk. Therefore it is important to protect children, particularly infants, with clothes or with a parasol and body vacancies with a high protection factor. Medicinal medical treatment
  • Antihistamines (tablets): modern antihistamines (make) "actinic dermatitis" known primarily to already 2-3 days before the vacation beginning no longer tired of also drivers.
  • To the prevention intake of beta carotene and nicotinamide (respectively four weeks before vacation beginning)
  • Cortison creams or lotions for the short-term application at appearance of skin changes in need of treatment in difficult cases also Cortisontablets (antiphlogistic and pruritus calming). Modern Cortisonanoint are skin wholesome very well since they penetrate rapidly and are dismantled after short time again. This way they only work on the spot and hardly reach other areas of the body. Cortisonanoint, however, shouldn't be immediately used in front of the insolation



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