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Chronic actinic dermatitis in Asian skin: a Singaporean experience
Author(s) -
Tan Aaron WeiMin,
Lim KarSeng,
Theng Colin,
Chong WeiSheng
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2011.00589.x
Subject(s) - phototype , medicine , dermatology , erythema , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunosuppression , family medicine
Background/purpose: To study the characteristics of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) in a heterogeneous group of Singaporean patients. Methods: The photobiologicial features of all patients phototested and diagnosed with CAD from January 2005 to December 2009 were examined retrospectively. Results: Fifty‐eight patients were diagnosed as having CAD. The mean age at diagnosis was 62 years (range 35–83). Forty‐one were (70.7%) Chinese, six (10.3%) Indians, eight (13.8%) Malays, and three (5.2%) Others. Forty‐seven were (81.0%) male and 11 (19.0%) were female. Forty‐nine (84.5%) had Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV and nine (15.5%) had phototype V. Three of 26 (11.5%) tested for human immunodeficiency virus were positive. The face, neck, and forearms were most commonly affected. Thirty‐two patients (55.2%) had reduced minimal erythema dose (MED) to both ultraviolet B (UVB)and ultraviolet A (UVA), 23 patients (39.7%) had lowered MED to UVB only, while three (5.1%) had reduced MED to UVA only. Patients were followed up for a mean of 16.8 months. All were treated with photoprotection and topical steroids; however, a few required oral immunosuppression with partial improvement. Conclusion: In Singapore, CAD was seen more commonly in elderly Chinese males of Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV. Reduced MED to both UVB and UVA was the most common phototest finding.