ABSTRACT
Photodermatoses comprise a group of skin diseases exacerbated by solar radiation.
Photodermatoses can be classified into four groups: immunologically mediated photo-
dermatoses, drug-and chemical-induced photosensitivity, DNA repair-deficient photo-
dermatoses, and photoaggravated dermatoses (Table 1) (1). For all photodermatoses, an
essential component of their management is photoprotection, which consists of seeking
shade, the use of photoprotective clothing and wide-brimmed hat, and the application of
broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVB and UVA. A number of UVA filters
are available in many parts of the world (see chap. 2); however, in the United States, only
oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, meradimate, avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and
ecamsule are available. Avobenzone is the only long-wave organic UVA filter available
in the United States. The availability of sunscreens with good UVA protection is
important in the management of photodermatoses, since the action spectra for most of
them do include UVA.
