Clinical Features:

• An eruption which occurs minutes to a few days following ultraviolet light exposure, and which resolves within seven to ten days
• Predilection for the upper extremities and head and neck, with an adult female predominance
• Presents as pruritic erythematous papules, vesicles and plaques.

Histologic Features:

• Marked dermal edema
• An early upper dermal perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate which progresses to a superficial and deep perivascular infiltrate with lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils, often with perivascular cuffing
• Upper dermal vascular ectasia and endothelial swelling
• Epidermal pathology ranges from no changes to vacuolar interface change and/or spongiosis with lymphocytic exocytosis, vesiculation, acanthosis, parakeratosis and occasionally even epidermal necrosis.
• Direct immunofluorescence shows perivascular IgM and C3 deposition.

Cases associated with this book:

Polymorphous light eruption
Author: Artur Zembowicz M.D. Ph.D.

Conference: Dermpedia Teaching Collection