CHRONIC POLYMORPHIC LIGHT ERUPTION - A STUDY OF 25 CASES

SUMMARY.— The chronic polymorphic light eruptions are a miscellaneous group of cutaneous reactions in which the responsible action spectrum probably lies in the sunburn range (290 to 320 nm.) and in the long u.v. (320 to 400 nm.) and visible (above 400 nm.) ranges. A group of 25 such cases is described and details are given of the results of phototesting, using a high pressure Xenon arc light source with appropriate filters. Evidence is presented in support of the possibility that in this group there may be a specific entity which occurs most often in females, appearing for the first time usually before adult life and lasting for up to 30 to 40 years. In this group no abnormality of porphyrin metabolism can be detected. The action spectra appear to lie both within and above the sunburn range: there is some evidence to suggest that a border zone between 305 and 325 nm. may be particularly relevant. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved