Premium
Infrared radiation increases skin damage induced by other wavelengths in solar urticaria
Author(s) -
Gálvez María Victoria,
Aguilera José,
SánchezRoldán Cristina,
HerreraCeballos Enrique
Publication year - 2016
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/phpp.12270
Subject(s) - radiation , wavelength , infrared , dermatology , optics , materials science , optoelectronics , medicine , physics
Summary Background Photodermatoses are typically investigated by analyzing the individual or combined effects of ultraviolet A ( UVA ), ultraviolet B ( UVB ), and visible light using light sources that simulate portions of the solar spectrum. Infrared radiation ( IRR ), however, accounts for 53% of incident solar radiation, but its effects are not taken into account in standard phototest protocols. Aims The aim was to analyze the effects of IRR , alone and combined with UVA and visible light on solar urticaria lesions, with a distinction between infrared A ( IRA ) and infrared B ( IRB ). Methods We performed standard phototests with UVA and visible light in four patients with solar urticaria and also tested the effects after blocking IRB with a water filter. To analyze the direct effect of IRR , we performed phototests with IRA and IRB . Results Initial standard phototests that were all positive found the induction of erythema and whealing, while when IRR was blocked from the UVA and visible light sources, three of the patients developed no lesions, while the fourth developed a very small wheal. Conclusion These results suggest that IRR has the potential to produce and exacerbate lesions caused by other types of radiation. Consideration of these effects during phototesting could help prevent diagnostic errors.