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Drug-induced photoallergic reaction
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Drug-induced photoallergic reaction

Contributors: Susan Burgin MD, Michael D. Tharp MD, Neil Shear MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Drug-induced photosensitivity can be divided into 2 kinds of reactions: phototoxic and photoallergic.

Drug-induced photoallergic reactions are allergic reactions due to ultraviolet light (UVL)-induced alteration of a drug. They are dose independent and do not occur in all patients. Patients typically complain of itching rather than burning, and symptoms tend to be chronic. Common offenders include the following: sunscreens (benzophenones, cinnamates), fragrances (musk ambrette, sandalwood oil), topical antimicrobial agents (chlorhexidine, fenticlor, hexachlorophene), NSAIDs (diclofenac, ketoprofen, piroxicam, celecoxib), phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, promethazine), antiarrhythmics (quinidine), antifungals (griseofulvin), antimalarials (quinine), quinolones (enoxacin, lomefloxacin), sulphonylureas (glipizide), and sulfonamides. Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole are common causes in immunosuppressed patients.

Drug-induced photoallergic reactions manifest as red, scaling, pruritic (eczematous) papules and plaques in photodistributed areas (forehead, malar areas, sides of neck, and dorsum of the hands). This eruption is often pruritic and looks like chronic atopic dermatitis with a photodistribution.

Codes

ICD10CM:
L56.1 – Drug photoallergic response

SNOMEDCT:
69047008 – Drug-induced photosensitivity

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Last Reviewed:03/27/2018
Last Updated:04/19/2018
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Drug-induced photoallergic reaction
A medical illustration showing key findings of Drug-induced photoallergic reaction : Photosensitivity, Scaly papule, Scaly plaque, Tiny vesicle, Photodistributed
Clinical image of Drug-induced photoallergic reaction - imageId=341044. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Widespread scaly and crusted pink plaques on dorsal hands and fingers, secondary to a medication.'
Widespread scaly and crusted pink plaques on dorsal hands and fingers, secondary to a medication.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.